THE GREAT IMPERSONATION

By E. Phillips Oppenheim

First published 1920. 

THE GREAT IMPERSONATION

CHAPTER I

The trouble from which great events were to come began when EverardDominey, who had been fighting his way through the scrub for the lastthree quarters of an hour towards those thin, spiral wisps of smoke, urged his pony to a last despairing effort and came crashing throughthe great oleander shrub to pitch forward on his head in the littleclearing. It developed the next morning, when he found himself for thefirst time for many months on the truckle bed, between linen sheets, with a cool, bamboo-twisted roof between him and the relentless sun. Heraised himself a little in the bed. 

"Where the mischief am I?" he demanded. 

A black boy, seated cross-legged in the entrance of the banda, rose tohis feet, mumbled something and disappeared. In a few moments the tall, slim figure of a European, in spotless white riding clothes, stoopeddown and came over to Dominey's side. 

"You are better?" he enquired politely. 

"Yes, I am, " was the somewhat brusque rejoinder. "Where the mischief amI, and who are you?"

The newcomer's manner stiffened. He was a person of dignified carriage, and his tone conveyed some measure of rebuke. 

"You are within half a mile of the Iriwarri River, if you know wherethat is, " he replied, --"about seventy-two miles southeast of theDarawaga Settlement. "

"The devil! Then I am in German East Africa?"

"Without a doubt. "

"And you are German?"

"I have that honour. "

Dominey whistled softly. 

"Awfully sorry to have intruded, " he said. "I left Marlinstein two and ahalf months ago, with twenty boys and plenty of stores. We were doinga big trek after lions. I took some new Askaris in and they madetrouble, --looted the stores one night and there was the devil to pay. I was obliged to shoot one or two, and the rest deserted. They took mycompass, damn them, and I'm nearly a hundred miles out of my bearings. You couldn't give me a drink, could you?"

"With pleasure, if the doctor approves, " was the courteous answer. "Here, Jan!"

The boy sprang up, listened to a word or two of brief command in hisown language, and disappeared through the hanging grass which led intoanother hut. The two men exchanged glances of rather more than ordinaryinterest. Then Dominey laughed. 

"I know what you're thinking, " he said. "It gave me quite a start whenyou came in. We're devilishly alike, aren't we?"

"There is a very strong likeness between us, " the other admitted. 

Dominey leaned his head upon his hand and studied his host. The likenesswas clear enough, although the advantage was all in favour of the manwho stood by the side of the camp bedstead with folded arms. EverardDominey, for the first twenty-six years of his life, had lived as anordinary young Englishman of his position, --Eton, Oxford, a few yearsin the Army, a few years about town, during which he had succeeded inmaking a still more hopeless muddle of his already encumbered estates: afew months of tragedy, and then a blank. Afterwards ten years--at firstin the cities, then in the dark places of Africa--years of which no manknew anything. The Everard Dominey of ten years ago had been, without adoubt, good-looking. The finely shaped features remained, but theeyes had lost their lustre, his figure its elasticity, his mouth itsfirmness. He had the look of a man run prematurely to seed, wasted byfevers and dissipation. Not so his present companion. His features wereas finely shaped, cast in an even stronger though similar mould. Hiseyes were bright and full of fire, his mouth and chin firm, bespeaking aman of deeds, his tall figure lithe and supple. He had the air of beingin perfect health, in perfect mental and physical condition, a man wholived with dignity and some measure of content, notwithstanding theslight gravity of his expression. 

"Yes, " the Englishman muttered, "there's no doubt about the likeness, though I suppose I should look more like you than I do if I'd taken careof myself. But I haven't. That's the devil of it. I've gone the otherway; tried to chuck my life away and pretty nearly succeeded, too. "

The dried grasses were thrust on one side, and the doctor entered, --alittle round man, also clad in immaculate white, with yellow-gold hairand thick spectacles. His countryman pointed towards the bed. 

"Will you examine our patient, Herr Doctor, and prescribe for him whatis necessary? He has asked for drink. Let him have wine, or whateveris good for him. If he is well enough, he will join our evening meal. Ipresent my excuses. I have a despatch to write. "

The man on the couch turned his head and watched the departing figurewith a shade of envy in his eyes. 

"What is my preserver's name?" he asked the doctor. 

The latter looked as though the questions were irreverent. 

"It is His Excellency the Major-General Baron Leopold Von Ragastein. "

"All that!" Dominey muttered. "Is he the Governor, or something of thatsort?"

"He is Military Commandant of the Colony, " the doctor replied. "He hasalso a special mission here. "

"Damned fine-looking fellow for a German, " Dominey remarked, withunthinking insolence. 

The doctor was unmoved. He was feeling his patient's pulse. He concludedhis examination a few minutes later. 

"You have drunk much whisky lately, so?" he asked. 

"I don't know what the devil it's got to do with you, " was the curtreply, "but I drink whisky whenever I can get it. Who wouldn't in thispestilential climate!"

The doctor shook his head. 

"The climate is good as he is treated, " he declared. "His Excellencydrinks nothing but light wine and seltzer water. He has been here forfive years, not only here but in the swamps, and he has not been ill oneday. "

"Well, I have been at death's door a dozen times, " the Englishmanrejoined a little recklessly, "and I don't much mind when I hand in mychecks, but until that time comes I shall drink whisky whenever I canget it. "

"The cook is preparing you some luncheon, " the doctor announced, "andit will do you good to eat. I cannot give you whisky at this moment, butyou can have some hock and seltzer with bay leaves. "

"Send it along, " was the enthusiastic reply. "What a constitution I musthave, doctor! The smell of that cooking outside is making me ravenous. "

"Your constitution is still sound if you would only respect it, " was thecomforting assurance. 

"Anything been heard of the rest of my party?" Dominey enquired. 

"Some bodies of Askaris have been washed up from the river, " the doctorinformed him, "and two of your ponies have been eaten by lions. Youwill excuse. I have the wounds of a native to dress, who was bitten lastnight by a jaguar. "

The traveller, left alone, lay still in the hut, and his thoughtswandered backwards. He looked out over the bare, scrubby stretch ofland which had been cleared for this encampment to the mass of bush andflowering shrubs beyond, mysterious and impenetrable save for that roughelephant track along which he had travelled; to the broad-bosomed river, blue as the sky above, and to the mountains fading into mist beyond. The face of his host had carried him back into the past. Puzzledreminiscence tugged at the strings of memory. It came to him later onat dinner time, when they three, the Commandant, the doctor and himself, sat at a little table arranged just outside the hut, that they mightcatch the faint breeze from the mountains, herald of the swift-fallingdarkness. Native servants beat the air around them with bamboo fans tokeep off the insects, and the air was faint almost to noxiousness withthe perfume of some sickly, exotic shrub. 

"Why, you're Devinter!" he exclaimed suddenly, --"Sigismund Devinter! Youwere at Eton with me--Horrock's House--semi-final in the racquets. "

"And Magdalen afterwards, number five in the boat. "

"And why the devil did the doctor here tell me that your name was VonRagastein?"

"Because it happens to be the truth, " was the somewhat measured reply. "Devinter is my family name, and the one by which I was known when inEngland. When I succeeded to the barony and estates at my uncle's death, however, I was compelled to also take the title. "

"Well, it's a small world!" Dominey exclaimed. "What brought you outhere really--lions or elephants?"

"Neither. "

"You mean to say that you've taken up this sort of political businessjust for its own sake, not for sport?"

"Entirely so. I do not use a sporting rifle once a month, except fornecessity. I came to Africa for different reasons. "

Dominey drank deep of his hock and seltzer and leaned back, watching thefireflies rise above the tall-bladed grass, above the stumpy clumps ofshrub, and hang like miniature stars in the clear, violet air. 

"What a world!" he soliloquised. "Siggy Devinter, Baron Von Ragastein, out here, slaving for God knows what, drilling niggers to fight Godknows whom, a political machine, I suppose, future Governor-General ofGerman Africa, eh? You were always proud of your country, Devinter. "

"My country is a country to be proud of, " was the solemn reply. 

"Well, you're in earnest, anyhow, " Dominey continued, "in earnestabout something. And I--well, it's finished with me. It would have beenfinished last night if I hadn't seen the smoke from your fires, and Idon't much care--that's the trouble. I go blundering on. I supposethe end will come somehow, sometime--Can I have some rum or whisky, Devinter--I mean Von Ragastein--Your Excellency--or whatever I oughtto say? You see those wreaths of mist down by the river? They'll meanmalaria for me unless I have spirits. "

"I have something better than either, " Von Ragastein replied. "You shallgive me your opinion of this. "

The orderly who stood behind his master's chair, received a whisperedorder, disappeared into the commissariat hut and came back presentlywith a bottle at the sight of which the Englishman gasped. 

"Napoleon!" he exclaimed. 

"Just a few bottles I had sent to me, " his host explained. "I amdelighted to offer it to some one who will appreciate it. "

"By Jove, there's no mistake about that!" Dominey declared, rolling itaround in his glass. "What a world! I hadn't eaten for thirty hourswhen I rolled up here last night, and drunk nothing but filthy waterfor days. To-night, fricassee of chicken, white bread, cabinet hock andNapoleon brandy. And to-morrow again--well, who knows? When do you moveon, Von Ragastein?"

"Not for several days. "

"What the mischief do you find to do so far from headquarters, if youdon't shoot lions or elephants?" his guest asked curiously. 

"If you really wish to know, " Von Ragastein replied, "I am annoying yourpolitical agents immensely by moving from place to place, collectingnatives for drill. "

"But what do you want to drill them for?" Dominey persisted. "I heardsome time ago that you have four times as many natives under arms as wehave. You don't want an army here. You're not likely to quarrel with usor the Portuguese. "

"It is our custom, " Von Ragastein declared a little didactically, "inGermany and wherever we Germans go, to be prepared not only for what islikely to happen but for what might possibly happen. "

"A war in my younger days, when I was in the Army, " Dominey mused, "might have made a man of me. "

"Surely you had your chance out here?"

Dominey shook his head. 

"My battalion never left the country, " he said. "We were shut up inIreland all the time. That was the reason I chucked the army when I wasreally only a boy. "

Later on they dragged their chairs a little farther out into thedarkness, smoking cigars and drinking some rather wonderful coffee. Thedoctor had gone off to see a patient, and Von Ragastein was thoughtful. Their guest, on the other hand, continued to be reminiscentlydiscursive. 

"Our meeting, " he observed, lazily stretching out his hand for hisglass, "should be full of interest to the psychologist. Here we are, brought together by some miraculous chance to spend one night of ourlives in an African jungle, two human beings of the same age, broughtup together thousands of miles away, jogging on towards the eternalblackness along lines as far apart as the mind can conceive. "

"Your eyes are fixed, " Von Ragastein murmured, "upon that very blacknessbehind which the sun will rise at dawn. You will see it come up frombehind the mountains in that precise spot, like a new and blazingworld. "

"Don't put me off with allegories, " his companion objected petulantly. "The eternal blackness exists surely enough, even if my metaphor isfaulty. I am disposed to be philosophical. Let me ramble on. Here am I, an idler in my boyhood, a harmless pleasure-seeker in my youth tillI ran up against tragedy, and since then a drifter, a drifter with aslowly growing vice, lolling through life with no definite purpose, withno definite hope or wish, except, " he went on a little drowsily, "that Ithink I'd like to be buried somewhere near the base of those mountains, on the other side of the river, from behind which you say the sun comesup every morning like a world on fire. "

"You talk foolishly, " Von Ragastein protested. "If there has beentragedy in your life, you have time to get over it. You are not yetforty years old. "

"Then I turn and consider you, " Dominey continued, ignoring altogetherhis friend's remark. "You are only my age, and you look ten yearsyounger. Your muscles are hard, your eyes are as bright as they were inyour school days. You carry yourself like a man with a purpose. You riseat five every morning, the doctor tells me, and you return here, wornout, at dusk. You spend every moment of your time drilling those filthyblacks. When you are not doing that, you are prospecting, supervisingreports home, trying to make the best of your few millions of acres offever swamps. The doctor worships you but who else knows? What do you doit for, my friend?"

"Because it is my duty, " was the calm reply. 

"Duty! But why can't you do your duty in your own country, and live aman's life, and hold the hands of white men, and look into the eyes ofwhite women?"

"I go where I am needed most, " Von Ragastein answered. "I do not enjoydrilling natives, I do not enjoy passing the years as an outcast fromthe ordinary joys of human life. But I follow my star. "

"And I my will-o'-the-wisp, " Dominey laughed mockingly. "The wholething's as plain as a pikestaff. You may be a dull dog--you always wereon the serious side--but you're a man of principle. I'm a slacker. "

"The difference between us, " Von Ragastein pronounced, "is somethingwhich is inculcated into the youth of our country and which is notinculcated into yours. In England, with a little money, a little birth, your young men expect to find the world a playground for sport, a gardenfor loves. The mightiest German noble who ever lived has his work to do. It is work which makes fibre, which gives balance to life. "

Dominey sighed. His cigar, dearly prized though it had been, was coldbetween his fingers. In that perfumed darkness, illuminated only by thefaint gleam of the shaded lamp behind, his face seemed suddenly whiteand old. His host leaned towards him and spoke for the first time in thekindlier tones of their youth. 

"You hinted at tragedy, my friend. You are not alone. Tragedy also hasentered my life. Perhaps if things had been otherwise, I should havefound work in more joyous places, but sorrow came to me, and I am here. "

A quick flash of sympathy lit up Dominey's face. 

"We met trouble in a different fashion, " he groaned. 

CHAPTER II

Dominey slept till late the following morning, and when he woke at lastfrom a long, dreamless slumber, he was conscious of a curiousquietness in the camp. The doctor, who came in to see him, explained itimmediately after his morning greeting. 

"His Excellency, " he announced, "has received important despatches fromhome. He has gone to meet an envoy from Dar-es-Salaam. He will be awayfor three days. He desired that you would remain his guest until hisreturn. "

"Very good of him, " Dominey murmured. "Is there any European news?"

"I do not know, " was the stolid reply. "His Excellency desired me toinform you that if you cared for a short trip along the banks of theriver, southward, there are a dozen boys left and some ponies. There areplenty of lion, and rhino may be met with at one or two places which thenatives know of. "

Dominey bathed and dressed, sipped his excellent coffee, and loungedabout the place in uncertain mood. He unburdened himself to the doctoras they drank tea together late in the afternoon. 

"I am not in the least keen on hunting, " he confessed, "and I feel likea horrible sponge, but all the same I have a queer sort of feeling thatI'd like to see Von Ragastein again. Your silent chief rather fascinatesme, Herr Doctor. He is a man. He has something which I have lost. "

"He is a great man, " the doctor declared enthusiastically. "What he setshis mind to do, he does. "

"I suppose I might have been like that, " Dominey sighed, "if I had hadan incentive. Have you noticed the likeness between us, Herr Doctor?"

The latter nodded. 

"I noticed it from the first moment of your arrival, " he assented. "Youare very much alike yet very different. The resemblance must have beenstill more remarkable in your youth. Time has dealt with your featuresaccording to your deserts. "

"Well, you needn't rub it in, " Dominey protested irritably. 

"I am rubbing nothing in, " the doctor replied with unruffled calm. "Ispeak the truth. If you had been possessed of the same moral stamina asHis Excellency, you might have preserved your health and the things thatcount. You might have been as useful to your country as he is to his. "

"I suppose I am pretty rocky?"

"Your constitution has been abused. You still, however, have muchvitality. If you cared to exercise self-control for a few months, youwould be a different man. --You must excuse. I have work. "

Dominey spent three restless days. Even the sight of a herd of elephantsin the river and that strange, fierce chorus of night sounds, as beastsof prey crept noiselessly around the camp, failed to move him. For themoment his love of sport, his last hold upon the world of real things, seemed dead. What did it matter, the killing of an animal more orless? His mind was fixed uneasily upon the past, searching always forsomething which he failed to discover. At dawn he watched for thatstrangely wonderful, transforming birth of the day, and at night he satoutside the banda, waiting till the mountains on the other side ofthe river had lost shape and faded into the violet darkness. Hisconversation with Von Ragastein had unsettled him. Without knowingdefinitely why, he wanted him back again. Memories that had long sinceceased to torture were finding their way once more into his brain. On the first day he had striven to rid himself of them in the usualfashion. 

"Doctor, you've got some whisky, haven't you?" he asked. 

The doctor nodded. 

"There is a case somewhere to be found, " he admitted. "His Excellencytold me that I was to refuse you nothing, but he advises you to drinkonly the white wine until his return. "

"He really left that message?"

"Precisely as I have delivered it. "

The desire for whisky passed, came again but was beaten back, returnedin the night so that he sat up with the sweat pouring down his face andhis tongue parched. He drank lithia water instead. Late in the afternoonof the third day, Von Ragastein rode into the camp. His clothes weretorn and drenched with the black mud of the swamps, dust and dirt werethick upon his face. His pony almost collapsed as he swung himself off. Nevertheless, he paused to greet his guest with punctilious courtesy, and there was a gleam of real satisfaction in his eyes as the two menshook hands. 

"I am glad that you are still here, " he said heartily. "Excuse me whileI bathe and change. We will dine a little earlier. So far I have noteaten to-day. "

"A long trek?" Dominey asked curiously. 

"I have trekked far, " was the quiet reply. 

At dinner time, Von Ragastein was one more himself, immaculate in whiteduck, with clean linen, shaved, and with little left of his fatigue. There was something different in his manner, however, some change whichpuzzled Dominey. He was at once more attentive to his guest, yet furtherremoved from him in spirit and sympathy. He kept the conversation withcurious insistence upon incidents of their school and college days, uponthe subject of Dominey's friends and relations, and the later episodesof his life. Dominey felt himself all the time encouraged to talk abouthis earlier life, and all the time he was conscious that for some reasonor other his host's closest and most minute attention was being givento his slightest word. Champagne had been served and served freely, andDominey, up to the very gates of that one secret chamber, talked volublyand without reserve. After the meal was over, their chairs were draggedas before into the open. The silent orderly produced even larger cigars, and Dominey found his glass filled once more with the wonderful brandy. The doctor had left them to visit the native camp nearly a quarter of amile away, and the orderly was busy inside, clearing the table. Only theblack shapes of the servants were dimly visible as they twirled theirfans, --and overhead the gleaming stars. They were alone. 

"I've been talking an awful lot of rot about myself, " Dominey said. "Tell me a little about your career now and your life in Germany beforeyou came out here?"

Von Ragastein made no immediate reply, and a curious silence ebbed andflowed between the two men. Every now and then a star shot acrossthe sky. The red rim of the moon rose a little higher from behind themountains. The bush stillness, always the most mysterious of silences, seemed gradually to become charged with unvoiced passion. Soon theanimals began to call around them, creeping nearer and nearer to thefire which burned at the end of the open space. 

"My friend, " Von Ragastein said at last, speaking with the air of a manwho has spent much time in deliberation, "you speak to me of Germany, of my homeland. Perhaps you have guessed that it is not duty alonewhich has brought me here to these wild places. I, too, left behind me atragedy. "

Dominey's quick impulse of sympathy was smothered by the stern, almostharsh repression of the other's manner. The words seemed to have beentorn from his throat. There was no spark of tenderness or regret in hisset face. 

"Since the day of my banishment, " he went on, "no word of this matterhas passed my lips. To-night it is not weakness which assails me, buta desire to yield to the strange arm of coincidence. You and I, schoolmates and college friends, though sons of a different country, meet here in the wilderness, each with the iron in our souls. I shalltell you the thing which happened to me, and you shall speak to me ofyour own curse. "

"I cannot!" Dominey groaned. 

"But you will, " was the stern reply. "Listen. "

An hour passed, and the voices of the two men had ceased. The howlingof the animals had lessened with the paling of the fires, and a slow, melancholy ripple of breeze was passing through the bush and lapping thesurface of the river. It was Von Ragastein who broke through what mightalmost have seemed a trance. He rose to his feet, vanished inside thebanda, and reappeared a moment or two later with two tumblers. One heset down in the space provided for it in the arm of his guest's chair. 

"To-night I break what has become a rule with me, " he announced. "Ishall drink a whisky and soda. I shall drink to the new things that mayyet come to both of us. "

"You are giving up your work here?" Dominey asked curiously. 

"I am part of a great machine, " was the somewhat evasive reply. "I havenothing to do but obey. "

A flicker of passion distorted Dominey's face, flamed for a moment inhis tone. 

"Are you content to live and die like this?" he demanded. "Don't youwant to get back to where a different sort of sun will warm your heartand fill your pulses? This primitive world is in its way colossal, but it isn't human, it isn't a life for humans. We want streets, VonRagastein, you and I. We want the tide of people flowing around us, theroar of wheels and the hum of human voices. Curse these animals! If Ilive in this country much longer, I shall go on all fours. "

"You yield too much to environment, " his companion observed. "In thelife of the cities you would be a sentimentalist. "

"No city nor any civilised country will ever claim me again, " Domineysighed. "I should never have the courage to face what might come. "

Von Ragastein rose to his feet. The dim outline of his erect form was ina way majestic. He seemed to tower over the man who lounged in the chairbefore him. 

"Finish your whisky and soda to our next meeting, friend of my schooldays, " he begged. "To-morrow, before you awake, I shall be gone. "

"So soon?"

"By to-morrow night, " Von Ragastein replied, "I must be on the otherside of those mountains. This must be our farewell. "

Dominey was querulous, almost pathetic. He had a sudden hatred ofsolitude. 

"I must trek westward myself directly, " he protested, "or eastward, ornorthward--it doesn't so much matter. Can't we travel together?"

Von Ragastein shook his head. 

"I travel officially, and I must travel alone, " he replied. "As foryourself, they will be breaking up here to-morrow, but they will lendyou an escort and put you in the direction you wish to take. This, alas, is as much as I can do for you. For us it must be farewell. "

"Well, I can't force myself upon you, " Dominey said a little wistfully. "It seems strange, though, to meet right out here, far away even fromthe by-ways of life, just to shake hands and pass on. I am sick to deathof niggers and animals. "

"It is Fate, " Von Ragastein decided. "Where I go, I must go alone. Farewell, dear friend! We will drink the toast we drank our last nightin your rooms at Magdalen. That Sanscrit man translated it for us: 'Mayeach find what he seeks!' We must follow our star. "

Dominey laughed a little bitterly. He pointed to a light glowingfitfully in the bush. 

"My will-o'-the-wisp, " he muttered recklessly, "leading where I shallfollow--into the swamps!"

A few minutes later Dominey threw himself upon his couch, curiously andunaccountably drowsy. Von Ragastein, who had come in to wish him goodnight, stood looking down at him for several moments with significantintentness. Then, satisfied that his guest really slept, he turned andpassed through the hanging curtain of dried grasses into the next banda, where the doctor, still fully dressed, was awaiting him. They spoketogether in German and with lowered voices. Von Ragastein had lostsomething of his imperturbability. 

"Everything progresses according to my orders?" he demanded. 

"Everything, Excellency! The boys are being loaded, and a runner hasgone on to Wadihuan for ponies to be prepared. "

"They know that I wish to start at dawn?"

"All will be prepared, Excellency. "

Von Ragastein laid his hand upon the doctor's shoulder. 

"Come outside, Schmidt, " he said. "I have something to tell you of myplans. "

The two men seated themselves in the long, wicker chairs, the doctorin an attitude of strict attention. Von Ragastein turned his head andlistened. From Dominey's quarters came the sound of deep and regularbreathing. 

"I have formed a great plan, Schmidt, " Von Ragastein proceeded. "Youknow what news has come to me from Berlin?"

"Your Excellency has told me a little, " the doctor reminded him. 

"The Day arrives, " Von Ragastein pronounced, his voice shaking with deepemotion. He paused a moment in thought and continued, "the time, eventhe month, is fixed. I am recalled from here to take the place for whichI was destined. You know what that place is? You know why I was sent toan English public school and college?"

"I can guess. "

"I am to take up my residence in England. I am to have a specialmission. I am to find a place for myself there as an Englishman. Themeans are left to my ingenuity. Listen, Schmidt. A great idea has cometo me. "

The doctor lit a cigar. 

"I listen, Excellency. "

Von Ragastein rose to his feet. Not content with the sound of thatregular breathing, he made his way to the opening of the banda and gazedin at Dominey's slumbering form. Then he returned. 

"It is something which you do not wish the Englishman to hear?" thedoctor asked. 

"It is. "

"We speak in German. "

"Languages, " was the cautions reply, "happen to be that man's onlyaccomplishment. He can speak German as fluently as you or I. That, however, is of no consequence. He sleeps and he will continue to sleep. I mixed him a sleeping draught with his whisky and soda. "

"Ah!" the doctor grunted. 

"My principal need in England is an identity, " Von Ragastein pointedout. "I have made up my mind. I shall take this Englishman's. I shallreturn to England as Sir Everard Dominey. "

"So!"

"There is a remarkable likeness between us, and Dominey has not seen anEnglishman who knows him for eight or ten years. Any school or collegefriends whom I may encounter I shall be able to satisfy. I have stayedat Dominey. I know Dominey's relatives. To-night he has babbled forhours, telling me many things that it is well for me to know. "

"What about his near relatives?"

"He has none nearer than cousins. "

"No wife?"

Von Ragastein paused and turned his head. The deep breathing inside thebanda had certainly ceased. He rose to his feet and, stealing uneasilyto the opening, gazed down upon his guest's outstretched form. To allappearance, Dominey still slept deeply. After a moment or two's watch, Von Ragastein returned to his place. 

"Therein lies his tragedy, " he confided, dropping his voice a littlelower. "She is insane--insane, it seems, through a shock for which hewas responsible. She might have been the only stumbling block, and sheis as though she did not exist. "

"It is a great scheme, " the doctor murmured enthusiastically. 

"It is a wonderful one! That great and unrevealed Power, Schmidt, whichwatches over our country and which will make her mistress of the world, must have guided this man to us. My position in England will be unique. As Sir Everard Dominey I shall be able to penetrate into the innercircles of Society--perhaps, even, of political life. I shall be able, if necessary, to remain in England even after the storm bursts. "

"Supposing, " the doctor suggested, "this man Dominey should return toEngland?"

Von Ragastein turned his head and looked towards his questioner. 

"He must not, " he pronounced. 

"So!" the doctor murmured. 

Late in the afternoon of the following day, Dominey, with a couple ofboys for escort and his rifle slung across his shoulder, rode into thebush along the way he had come. The little fat doctor stood and watchedhim, waving his hat until he was out of sight. Then he called to theorderly. 

"Heinrich, " he said, "you are sure that the Herr Englishman has thewhisky?"

"The water bottles are filled with nothing else, Herr Doctor, " the manreplied. 

"There is no water or soda water in the pack?"

"Not one drop, Herr Doctor. "

"How much food?"

"One day's rations. "

"The beef is salt?"

"It is very salt, Herr Doctor. "

"And the compass?"

"It is ten degrees wrong. "

"The boys have their orders?"

"They understand perfectly, Herr Doctor. If the Englishman does notdrink, they will take him at midnight to where His Excellency will beencamped at the bend of the Blue River. "

The doctor sighed. He was not at heart an unkindly man. 

"I think, " he murmured, "it will be better for the Englishman that hedrinks. "

CHAPTER III

Mr. John Lambert Mangan of Lincoln's Inn gazed at the card which ajunior clerk had just presented in blank astonishment, an astonishmentwhich became speedily blended with dismay. 

"Good God, do you see this, Harrison?" he exclaimed, passing it overto his manager, with whom he had been in consultation. "Dominey--SirEverard Dominey--back here in England!"

The head clerk glanced at the narrow piece of pasteboard and sighed. 

"I'm afraid you will find him rather a troublesome client, sir, " heremarked. 

His employer frowned. "Of course I shall, " he answered testily. "Thereisn't an extra penny to be had out of the estates--you know that, Harrison. The last two quarters' allowance which we sent to Africa cameout of the timber. Why the mischief didn't he stay where he was!"

"What shall I tell the gentleman, sir?" the boy enquired. 

"Oh, show him in!" Mr. Mangan directed ill-temperedly. "I suppose Ishall have to see him sooner or later. I'll finish these affidavitsafter lunch, Harrison. "

The solicitor composed his features to welcome a client who, howevertroublesome his affairs had become, still represented a family who hadbeen valued patrons of the firm for several generations. He was preparedto greet a seedy-looking and degenerate individual, looking older thanhis years. Instead, he found himself extending his hand to one of thebest turned out and handsomest men who had ever crossed the thresholdof his not very inviting office. For a moment he stared at his visitor, speechless. Then certain points of familiarity--the well-shaped nose, the rather deep-set grey eyes--presented themselves. This surpriseenabled him to infuse a little real heartiness into his welcome. 

"My dear Sir Everard!" he exclaimed. "This is a most unexpectedpleasure--most unexpected! Such a pity, too, that we only posted a draftfor your allowance a few days ago. Dear me--you'll forgive my sayingso--how well you look!"

Dominey smiled as he accepted an easy chair. 

"Africa's a wonderful country, Mangan, " he remarked, with just thatfaint note of patronage in his tone which took his listener back to thedays of his present client's father. 

"It--pardon my remarking it--has done wonderful things for you, SirEverard. Let me see, it must be eleven years since we met. "

Sir Everard tapped the toes of his carefully polished brown shoes withthe end of his walking stick. 

"I left London, " he murmured reminiscently, "in April, nineteen hundredand two. Yes, eleven years, Mr. Mangan. It seems queer to find myself inLondon again, as I dare say you can understand. "

"Precisely, " the lawyer murmured. "I was just wondering--I think thatlast remittance we sent to you could be stopped. I have no doubt youwill be glad of a little ready money, " he added, with a confident smile. 

"Thanks, I don't think I need any just at present, " was the amazinganswer. "We'll talk about financial affairs a little later on. "

Mr. Mangan metaphorically pinched himself. He had known his presentclient even during his school days, had received a great many visitsfrom him at different times, and could not remember one in which thequestion of finance had been dismissed in so casual a manner. 

"I trust, " he observed chiefly for the sake of saying something, "thatyou are thinking of settling down here for a time now?"

"I have finished with Africa, if that is what you mean, " was thesomewhat grave reply. "As to settling down here, well, that depends alittle upon what you have to tell me. "

The lawyer nodded. 

"I think, " he said, "that you may make yourself quite easy as regardsthe matter of Roger Unthank. Nothing has ever been heard of him sincethe day you left England. "

"His--body has not been found?"

"Nor any trace of it. "

There was a brief silence. The lawyer looked hard at Dominey, andDominey searchingly back again at the lawyer. 

"And Lady Dominey?" the former asked at length. 

"Her ladyship's condition is, I believe, unchanged, " was the somewhatguarded reply. 

"If the circumstances are favourable, " Dominey continued, after anothermoment's pause, "I think it very likely that I may decide to settle downat Dominey Hall. "

The lawyer appeared doubtful. 

"I am afraid, " he said, "you will be very disappointed in the conditionof the estate, Sir Everard. As I have repeatedly told you in ourcorrespondence, the rent roll, after deducting your settlement upon LadyDominey, has at no time reached the interest on the mortgages, and wehave had to make up the difference and send you your allowance out ofthe proceeds of the outlying timber. "

"That is a pity, " Dominey replied, with a frown. "I ought, perhaps, to have taken you more into my confidence. By the by, " he added, "when--er--about when did you receive my last letter?"

"Your last letter?" Mr. Mangan repeated. "We have not had the privilegeof hearing from you, Sir Everard, for over four years. The onlyintimation we had that our payments had reached you was the exceedinglyprompt debit of the South African bank. "

"I have certainly been to blame, " this unexpected visitor confessed. "Onthe other hand, I have been very much absorbed. If you haven't happenedto hear any South African gossip lately, Mangan, I suppose it will be asurprise to you to hear that I have been making a good deal of money. "

"Making money?" the lawyer gasped. "You making money, Sir Everard?"

"I thought you'd be surprised, " Dominey observed coolly. "However, that's neither here nor there. The business object of my visit to youthis morning is to ask you to make arrangements as quickly as possiblefor paying off the mortgages on the Dominey estates. "

Mr. Mangan was a lawyer of the new-fashioned school, --Harrow andCambridge, the Bath Club, racquets and fives, rather than gold andlawn tennis. Instead of saying "God bless my soul!" he exclaimed "GreatScott!" dropped a very modern-looking eyeglass from his left eye, andleaned back in his chair with his hands in his pockets. 

"I have had three or four years of good luck, " his client continued. "Ihave made money in gold mines, in diamond mines and in land. I amafraid that if I had stayed out another year, I should have descendedaltogether to the commonplace and come back a millionaire. "

"My heartiest congratulations!" Mr. Mangan found breath to murmur. "You'll forgive my being so astonished, but you are the first DomineyI ever knew who has ever made a penny of money in any sort of way, andfrom what I remember of you in England--I'm sure you'll forgive my beingso frank--I should never have expected you to have even attempted such athing. "

Dominey smiled good-humouredly. 

"Well, " he said, "if you inquire at the United Bank of Africa, you willfind that I have a credit balance there of something over a hundredthousand pounds. Then I have also--well, let us say a trifle more, invested in first-class mines. Do me the favour of lunching with me, Mr. Mangan, and although Africa will never be a favourite topic ofconversation with me, I will tell you about some of my speculations. "

The solicitor groped around for his hat. 

"I will send the boy for a taxi, " he faltered. 

"I have a car outside, " this astonishing client told him. "Before weleave, could you instruct your clerk to have a list of the Domineymortgages made out, with the terminable dates and redemption values?"

"I will leave instructions, " Mr. Mangan promised. "I think that thetotal amount is under eighty thousand pounds. "

Dominey sauntered through the office, an object of much interest to thelittle staff of clerks. The lawyer joined him on the pavement in a fewminutes. 

"Where shall we lunch?" Dominey asked. "I'm afraid my clubs are a littleout of date. I am staying at the Carlton. "

"The Carlton grill room is quite excellent, " Mr. Mangan suggested. 

"They are keeping me a table until half-past one, " Dominey replied. "Wewill lunch there, by all means. "

They drove off together, the returned traveller gazing all the time outof the window into the crowded streets, the lawyer a little thoughtful. 

"While I think of it, Sir Everard, " the latter said, as they drew neartheir destination. "I should be glad of a short conversation with youbefore you go down to Dominey. "

"With regard to anything in particular?"

"With regard to Lady Dominey, " the lawyer told him a little gravely. 

A shadow rested on his companion's face. 

"Is her ladyship very much changed?"

"Physically, she is in excellent health, I believe. Mentally I believethat there is no change. She has unfortunately the same rather violentprejudice which I am afraid influenced your departure from England. "

"In plain words, " Dominey said bitterly, "she has sworn to take my lifeif ever I sleep under the same roof. "

"She will need, I am afraid, to be strictly watched, " the lawyeranswered evasively. "Still, I think you ought to be told that time doesnot seem to have lessened her tragical antipathy. "

"She regards me still as the murderer of Roger Unthank?" Dominey asked, in a measured tone. 

"I am afraid she does. "

"And I suppose that every one else has the same idea?"

"The mystery, " Mr. Mangan admitted, "has never been cleared up. It iswell known, you see, that you fought in the park and that you staggeredhome almost senseless. Roger Unthank has never been seen from that dayto this. "

"If I had killed him, " Dominey pointed out, "why was his body notfound?"

The lawyer shook his head. 

"There are all sorts of theories, of course, " he said, "but for onesuperstition you may as well be prepared. There is scarcely a man ora woman for miles around Dominey who doesn't believe that the ghost ofRoger Unthank still haunts the Black Wood near where you fought. "

"Let us be quite clear about this, " Dominey insisted. "If the bodyshould ever be found, am I liable, after all these years, to be indictedfor manslaughter?"

"I think you may make your mind quite at ease, " the lawyer assured him. "In the first place, I don't think you would ever be indicted. "

"And in the second?"

"There isn't a human being in that part of Norfolk would ever believethat the body of man or beast, left within the shadow of the Black Wood, would ever be seen or heard of again!"

CHAPTER IV

Mr. Mangan, on their way into the grill room, loitered for a few minutesin the small reception room, chatting with some acquaintances, whilsthis host, having spoken to the _maitre d'hotel_ and ordered a cocktailfrom a passing waiter, stood with his hands behind his back, watchingthe inflow of men and women with all that interest which one might besupposed to feel in one's fellows after a prolonged absence. He hadmoved a little to one side to allow a party of young people to maketheir way through the crowded chamber, when he was conscious of a womanstanding alone on the topmost of the three thickly carpeted stairs. Their eyes met, and hers, which had been wandering around the room asthough in search of some acquaintance, seemed instantly and ferventlyheld. To the few loungers about the room, ignorant of any specialsignificance in that studied contemplation of the man on the part ofthe woman, their two personalities presented an agreeable, almost afascinating study. Dominey was six feet two in height and had to itsfullest extent the natural distinction of his class, together withthe half military, half athletic bearing which seemed to have been somarvellously restored to him. His complexion was no more than becominglytanned; his slight moustache, trimmed very close to the upper lip, wasof the same ruddy brown shade as his sleekly brushed hair. The woman, who had commenced now to move slowly towards him, save that her cheeks, at that moment, at any rate, were almost unnaturally pale, was of thesame colouring. Her red-gold hair gleamed beneath her black hat. Shewas tall, a Grecian type of figure, large without being coarse, majesticthough still young. She carried a little dog under one arm and a plainblack silk bag, on which was a coronet in platinum and diamonds, inthe other hand. The major-domo who presided over the room, watching herapproach, bowed with more than his usual urbanity. Her eyes, however, were still fixed upon the person who had engaged so large a share of herattention. She came towards him, her lips a little parted. 

"Leopold!" she faltered. "The Holy Saints, why did you not let me know!"

Dominey bowed very slightly. His words seemed to have a cut and driedflavour. 

"I am so sorry, " he replied, "but I fear that you make a mistake. Myname is not Leopold. "

She stood quite still, looking at him with the air of not having heard aword of his polite disclaimer. 

"In London, of all places, " she murmured. "Tell me, what does it mean?"

"I can only repeat, madam, " he said, "that to my very great regret Ihave not the honour of your acquaintance. "

She was puzzled, but absolutely unconvinced. 

"You mean to deny that you are Leopold Von Ragastein?" she askedincredulously. "You do not know me?"

"Madam, " he answered, "it is not my great pleasure. My name isDominey--Everard Dominey. "

She seemed for a moment to be struggling with some embarrassment whichapproached emotion. Then she laid her fingers upon his sleeve and drewhim to a more retired corner of the little apartment. 

"Leopold, " she whispered, "nothing can make it wrong or indiscreet foryou to visit me. My address is 17, Belgrave Square. I desire to see youto-night at seven o'clock. "

"But, my dear lady, " Dominey began--

Her eyes suddenly glowed with a new light. 

"I will not be trifled with, " she insisted. "If you wish to succeed inwhatever scheme you have on hand, you must not make an enemy of me. Ishall expect you at seven o'clock. "

She passed away from him into the restaurant. Mr. Mangan, now freed fromhis friends, rejoined his host, and the two men took their places at theside table to which they were ushered with many signs of attention. 

"Wasn't that the Princess Eiderstrom with whom you were talking?" thesolicitor asked curiously. 

"A lady addressed me by mistake, " Dominey explained. "She mistook me, curiously enough, for a man who used to be called my double at Oxford. Sigismund Devinter he was then, although I think he came into a titlelater on. "

"The Princess is quite a famous personage, " Mr. Mangan remarked, "one ofthe richest widows in Europe. Her husband was killed in a duel some sixor seven years ago. "

Dominey ordered the luncheon with care, slipping into a word or two ofGerman once to assist the waiter, who spoke English with difficulty. Hiscompanion smiled. 

"I see that you have not forgotten your languages out there in thewilds. "

"I had no chance to, " Dominey answered. "I spent five years on theborders of German East Africa, and I traded with some of the fellowsthere regularly. "

"By the by, " Mr. Mangan enquired, "what sort of terms are we on with theGermans out there?"

"Excellent, I should think, " was the careless reply. "I never had anytrouble. "

"Of course, " the lawyer continued, "this will all be new to you, butduring the last few years Englishmen have become divided into twoclasses--the people who believe that the Germans wish to go to war andcrush us, and those who don't. "

"Then since my return the number of the 'don'ts' has been increased byone. "

"I am amongst the doubtfuls myself, " Mr. Mangan remarked. "All the same, I can't quite see what Germany wants with such an immense army, and whyshe is continually adding to her fleet. "

Dominey paused for a moment to discuss the matter of a sauce with thehead waiter. He returned to the subject a few minutes later on, however. 

"Of course, " he pointed out, "my opinions can only come from a study ofthe newspapers and from conversations with such Germans as I have metout in Africa, but so far as her army is concerned, I should have saidthat Russia and France were responsible for that, and the more powerfulit is, the less chance of any European conflagration. Russia might atany time come to the conclusion that a war is her only salvation againsta revolution, and you know the feeling in France about Alsace-Lorraineas well as I do. The Germans themselves say that there is more interestin military matters and more progress being made in Russia to-day thanever before. "

"I have no doubt that you are right, " agreed Mr. Mangan. "It is a matterwhich is being a great deal discussed just now, however. Let us speakof your personal plans. What do you intend to do for the next few weeks, say? Have you been to see any of your relatives yet?"

"Not one, " Dominey replied. "I am afraid that I am not altogether keenabout making advances. "

Mr. Mangan coughed. "You must remember that during the period of yourlast residence in London, " he said, "you were in a state of chronicimpecuniosity. No doubt that rather affected the attitude of some ofthose who would otherwise have been more friendly. "

"I should be perfectly content never to see one of them again, " declaredDominey, with perfect truth. 

"That, of course, is impossible, " the lawyer protested. "You must go andsee the Duchess, at any rate. She was always your champion. "

"The Duchess was always very kind to me, " Dominey admitted doubtfully, "but I am afraid she was rather fed up before I left England. "

Mr. Mangan smiled. He was enjoying a very excellent lunch, which itseemed hard to believe was ordered by a man just home from the wilds ofAfrica, and he thoroughly enjoyed talking about duchesses. 

"Her Grace, " he began--

"Well?"

The lawyer had paused, with his eyes glued upon the couple at aneighbouring table. He leaned across towards his companion. 

"The Duchess herself, Sir Everard, just behind you, with Lord St. Omar. "

"This place must certainly be the rendezvous of all the world, " Domineydeclared, as he held out his hand to a man who had approached theirtable. "Seaman, my friend, welcome! Let me introduce you to my friendand legal adviser, Mr. Mangan--Mr. Seaman. "

Mr. Seaman was a short, fat man, immaculately dressed in mostconventional morning attire. He was almost bald, except for a littletuft on either side, and a few long, fair hairs carefully brushed backover a shining scalp. His face was extraordinarily round except towardshis chin, where it came to a point; his eyes bright and keen, his mouththe mouth of a professional humourist. He shook hands with the lawyerwith an _empressement_ which was scarcely English. 

"Within the space of half an hour, " Dominey continued, "I find aprincess who desires to claim my acquaintance; a cousin, " he dropped hisvoice a little, "who lunches only a few tables away, and the man of whomI have seen the most during the last ten years amidst scenes a littledifferent from these, eh, Seaman?"

Seaman accepted the chair which the waiter had brought and sat down. Thelawyer was immediately interested. 

"Do I understand, then, " he asked, addressing the newcomer, "that youknew Sir Everard in Africa?"

Seaman beamed. "Knew him?" he repeated, and with the first words of hisspeech the fact of his foreign nationality was established. "There wasno one of whom I knew so much. We did business together--a great deal ofbusiness--and when we were not partners, Sir Everard generally got thebest of it. "

Dominey laughed. "Luck generally comes to a man either early or latein life. My luck came late. I think, Seaman, that you must have been mymascot. Nothing went wrong with me during the years that we did businesstogether. "

Seaman was a little excited. He brushed upright with the palm of hishand one of those little tufts of hair left on the side of his head, andhe laid his plump fingers upon the lawyer's shoulder. 

"Mr. Mangan, " he said, "you listen to me. I sell this man thecontrolling interests in a mine, shares which I have held for four anda half years and never drew a penny dividend. I sell them to him, I say, at par. Well, I need the money and it seems to me that I had given theshares a fair chance. Within five weeks--five weeks, sir, " he repeated, struggling to attune his voice to his civilised surroundings, "thoseshares had gone from par to fourteen and a half. To-day they stand attwenty. He gave me five thousand pounds for those shares. To-dayhe could walk into your stock market and sell them for one hundredthousand. That is the way money is made in Africa, Mr. Mangan, whereinnocents like me are to be found every day. "

Dominey poured out a glass of wine and passed it to their visitor. 

"Come, " he said, "we all have our ups and downs. Africa owes younothing, Seaman. "

"I have done well in my small way, " Seaman admitted, fingering the stemof his wineglass, "but where I have had to plod, Sir Everard here hasstood and commanded fate to pour her treasures into his lap. "

The lawyer was listening with a curious interest and pleasure to thishalf bantering conversation. He found an opportunity now to intervene. 

"So you two were really friends in Africa?" he remarked, with a queerand almost inexplicable sense of relief. 

"If Sir Everard permits our association to be so called, " Seamanreplied. "We have done business together in the great cities--inJohannesburg and Pretoria, in Kimberley and Cape Town--and we haveprospected together in the wild places. We have trekked the veldt andbeen lost to the world for many months at a time. We have seen the realwonders of Africa together, as well as her tawdry civilisation. "

"And you, too, " Mr. Mangan asked, "have you retired?"

Seaman's smile was almost beatific. 

"The same deal, " he said, "which brought Sir Everard's fortune towonderful figures brought me that modest sum which I had sworn toreach before I returned to England. It is true. I have retired frommoney-making. It is now that I take up again my real life's work. "

"If you are going to talk about your hobby, " Dominey observed, "you hadbetter order them to serve your lunch here. "

"I had finished my lunch before you came in, " his friend replied. "Idrink another glass of wine with you, perhaps. Afterwards a liqueur--whocan say? In this climate one is favoured, one can drink freely. SirEverard and I, Mr. Mangan, have been in places where thirst is a thingto be struggled against, where for months a little weak brandy and waterwas our chief dissipation. "

"Tell me about this hobby?" the lawyer enquired. 

Dominey intervened promptly. "I protest. If he begins to talk of that, he'll be here all the afternoon. "

Seaman held out his hands and rolled his head from side to side. 

"But I am not so unreasonable, " he objected. "Just one word--so?Very well, then, " he proceeded quickly, with the air of one fearinginterruption. "This must be clear to you, Mr. Mangan. I am a Germanby birth, naturalised in England for the sake of my business, lovingGermany, grateful to England. One third of my life I have lived inBerlin, one third at Forest Hill here in London, and in the city, onethird in Africa. I have watched the growth of commercial rivalries andjealousies between the two nations. There is no need for them. Theymight lead to worse things. I would brush them all away. My aim is toencourage a league for the promotion of more cordial social and businessrelations between the people of Great Britain and the people of theGerman Empire. There! Have I wasted much of your time? Can I not speakof my hobby without a flood of words?"

"Conciseness itself, " Mangan admitted, "and I compliment you mostheartily upon your scheme. If you can get the right people into it, itshould prove a most valuable society. "

"In Germany I have the right people. All Germans who live for theircountry and feel for their country loathe the thought of war. We wantpeace, we want friends, and, to speak as man to man, " he concluded, tapping the lawyer upon the coat sleeve, "England is our best customer. "

"I wish one could believe, " the latter remarked, "that yours was thepopular voice in your country. "

Seaman rose reluctantly to his feet. 

"At half-past two, " he announced, glancing at his watch, "I have anappointment with a woollen manufacturer from Bradford. I hope to get himto join my council. "

He bowed ceremoniously to the lawyer, nodded to Dominey with thefamiliarity of an old friend, and made his bustling, good-humoured wayout of the room. 

"A sound business man, I should think, " was the former's comment. "Iwish him luck with his League. You yourself, Sir Everard, will need todevelop some new interests. Why not politics?"

"I really expect to find life a little difficult at first, " admittedDominey, with a shrug of his shoulders. "I have lost many of the tastesof my youth, and I am very much afraid that my friends over here willcall me colonial. I can't fancy myself doing nothing down in Norfolk allthe rest of my days. Perhaps I shall go into Parliament. "

"You must forgive my saying, " his companion declared impulsively, "thatI never knew ten years make such a difference in a man in my life. "

"The colonies, " Dominey pronounced, "are a kill or cure sort ofbusiness. You either take your drubbing and come out a stronger man, oryou go under. I had the very narrowest escape from going under myself, but I just pulled together in time. To-day I wouldn't have been withoutmy hard times for anything in the world. "

"If you will permit me, " Mr. Mangan said, with an inherited pomposity, "on our first meeting under the new conditions, I should like to offeryou my hearty congratulations, not only upon what you have accomplishedbut upon what you have become. "

"And also, I hope, " Dominey rejoined, smiling a little seriously andwith a curious glint in his eyes, "upon what I may yet accomplish. "

The Duchess and her companion had risen to their feet, and the former, on her way out, recognising her solicitor, paused graciously. 

"How do you do, Mr. Mangan?" she said. "I hope you are looking afterthose troublesome tenants of mine in Leicestershire?"

"We shall make our report in due course, Duchess, " Mangan assured her. "Will you permit me, " he added, "to bring back to your memory a relativewho has just returned from abroad--Sir Everard Dominey?"

Dominey had risen to his feet a moment previously and now extended hishand. The Duchess, who was a tall, graceful woman, with masses of fairhair only faintly interspersed with gray, very fine brown eyes, thecomplexion of a girl, and, to quite her own confession, the manners of akitchen maid, stared at him for a moment without any response. 

"Sir Everard Dominey?" she repeated. "Everard? Ridiculous!"

Dominey's extended hand was at once withdrawn, and the tentative smilefaded from his lips. The lawyer plunged into the breach. 

"I can assure your Grace, " he insisted earnestly, "that there is nodoubt whatever about Sir Everard's identity. He only returned fromAfrica during the last few days. "

The Duchess's incredulity remained, wholly good-natured but ministeredto by her natural obstinacy. 

"I simply cannot bring myself to believe it, " she declared. "Come, I'llchallenge you. When did we meet last?"

"At Worcester House, " was the prompt reply. "I came to say good-bye toyou. "

The Duchess was a little staggered. Her eyes softened, a faint smileplayed at the corners of her lips. She was suddenly a very attractivelooking woman. 

"You came to say good-bye, " she repeated, "and?"

"I am to take that as a challenge?" Dominey asked, standing very uprightand looking her in the eyes. 

"As you will. "

"You were a little kinder to me, " he continued, "than you are to-day. You gave me--this, " he added, drawing a small picture from hispocketbook, "and you permitted--"

"For heaven's sake, put that thing away, " she cried, "and don't sayanother word! There's my grown-up nephew, St. Omar, paying hisbill almost within earshot. Come and see me at half-past three thisafternoon, and don't be a minute late. And, St. Omar, " she wenton, turning to the young man who stood now by her side, "this is aconnection of yours--Sir Everard Dominey. He is a terrible person, butdo shake hands with him and come along. I am half an hour late for mydressmaker already. "

Lord St. Omar chuckled vaguely, then shook hands with his new-foundrelative, nodded affably to the lawyer and followed his aunt out of theroom. Mangan's expression was beatific. 

"Sir Everard, " he exclaimed, "God bless you! If ever a woman got whatshe deserved! I've seen a duchess blush--first time in my life!"

CHAPTER V

Worcester House was one of those semi-palatial residences set downapparently for no reason whatever in the middle of Regent's Park. It hadbeen acquired by a former duke at the instigation of the Regent, who washis intimate friend, and retained by later generations in mute protestagainst the disfiguring edifices which had made a millionaire's highwayof Park Lane. Dominey, who was first scrutinised by an individual inbuff waistcoat and silk hat at the porter's lodge, was interviewed by amajor-domo in the great stone hall, conducted through an extraordinarilyVictorian drawing-room by another myrmidon in a buff waistcoat, andfinally ushered into a tiny little boudoir leading out of a largerapartment and terminating in a conservatory filled with sweet-smellingexotics. The Duchess, who was reclining in an easy-chair, held out herhand, which her visitor raised to his lips. She motioned him to a seatby her side and once more scrutinised him with unabashed intentness. 

"There's something wrong about you, you know, " she declared. 

"That seems very unfortunate, " he rejoined, "when I return to find youwholly unchanged. "

"Not bad, " she remarked critically. "All the same, I have changed. I amnot in the least in love with you any longer. "

"It was the fear of that change in you, " he sighed, "which kept me forso long in the furthest corners of the world. "

She looked at him with a severity which was obviously assumed. 

"Look here, " she said, "it is better for us to have a perfectly clearunderstanding upon one point. I know the exact position of your affairs, and I know, too, that the two hundred a year which your lawyer has beensending out to you came partly out of a few old trees and partly out ofhis own pocket. How you are going to live over here I cannot imagine, but it isn't the least use expecting Henry to do a thing for you. Thepoor man has scarcely enough pocket money to pay his travelling expenseswhen he goes lecturing. "

"Lecturing?" Dominey repeated. "What's happened to poor Henry?"

"My husband is an exceedingly conscientious man, " was the dignifiedreply. "He goes from town to town with Lord Roberts and a secretary, lecturing on national defence. "

"Dear Henry was always a little cranky, wasn't he?" Dominey observed. "Let me put your mind at rest on that other matter, though, Caroline. Ican assure you that I have come back to England not to borrow money butto spend it. "

His cousin shook her head mournfully. "And a few minutes ago I wasnearly observing that you had lost your sense of humour!"

"I am in earnest, " he persisted. "Africa has turned out to be myEldorado. Quite unexpectedly, I must admit, I came in for a considerablesum of money towards the end of my stay there. I am paying off themortgages at Dominey at once, and I want Henry to jot down on paper atonce those few amounts he was good enough to lend me in the old days. "

Caroline, Duchess of Worcester, sat perfectly still for a moment withher mouth open, a condition which was entirely natural but unbecoming. 

"And you mean to tell me that you really are Everard Dominey?" sheexclaimed. 

"The weight of evidence is rather that way, " he murmured. 

He moved his chair deliberately a little nearer, took her hand andraised it to his lips. Her face was perilously near to his. She drew alittle back--and too abruptly. 

"My dear Everard, " she whispered, "Henry is in the house! Besides--Yes, I suppose you must be Everard. Just now there was something in your eyesexactly like his. But you are so stiff. Have you been drilling out thereor anything?"

He shook his head. 

"One spends half one's time in the saddle. "

"And you are really well off?" she asked again wonderingly. 

"If I had stayed there another year, " he replied, "and been able tomarry a Dutch Jewess, I should have qualified for Park Lane. "

She sighed. 

"It's too wonderful. Henry will love having his money back. "

"And you?"

She looked positively distressed. 

"You've lost all your manners, " she complained. "You make love like agarden rake. You should have leaned towards me with a quiver in yourvoice when you said those last two words, and instead of that you lookas though you were sitting at attention, with a positive glint of steelin your eyes. "

"One sees a woman once in a blue moon out there, " he pleaded. 

She shook her head. "You've changed. It was a sixth sense with you tomake love in exactly the right tone, to say exactly the right thing inthe right manner. "

"I shall pick it up, " he declared hopefully, "with a little assistance. "

She made a little grimace. 

"You won't want an old woman like me to assist you, Everard. You'll havethe town at your feet. You'll be able to frivol with musical comedy, flirt with our married beauties, or--I'm sorry, Everard, I forgot. "

"You forgot what?" he asked steadfastly. 

"I forgot the tragedy which finally drove you abroad. I forgot yourmarriage. Is there any change in your wife?"

"Not much, I am afraid. "

"And Mr. Mangan--he thinks that you are safe over here?"

"Perfectly. "

She looked at him earnestly. Perhaps she had never admitted, even toherself, how fond she had been of this scapegrace cousin. 

"You'll find that no one will have a word to say against you, " she toldhim, "now that you are wealthy and regenerate. They'll forget everythingyou want them to. When will you come and dine here and meet all yourrelatives?"

"Whenever you are kind enough to ask me, " he answered. "I thought ofgoing down to Dominey to-morrow. "

She looked at him with a new thing in her eyes--something of fear, something, too, of admiration. 

"But--your wife?"

"She is there, I believe, " he said. "I cannot help it. I have been anexile from my home long enough. "

"Don't go, " she begged suddenly. "Why not be brave and have her removed. I know how tender-hearted you are, but you have your future and yourcareer to consider. For her sake, too, you ought not to give her theopportunity--"

Dominey could never make up his mind whether the interruption which cameat that moment was welcome or otherwise. Caroline suddenly broke offin her speech and glanced warningly towards the larger room. A tall, grey-haired man, dressed in old-fashioned clothes and wearing apince-nez, had lifted the curtains. He addressed the Duchess in a thin, reedy voice. 

"My dear Caroline, " he began, --"ah, you must forgive me. I did not knowthat you were engaged. We will not stay, but I should like to present toyou a young friend of mine who is going to help me at the meeting thisevening. "

"Do bring him in, " his wife replied, her voice once more attuned to itsnatural drawl. "And I have a surprise for you too, Henry--a very greatsurprise, I think you will find it!"

Dominey rose to his feet--a tall, commanding figure--and stood waitingthe approach of the newcomer. The Duke advanced, looking at himenquiringly. A young man, very obviously a soldier in mufti, washovering in the background. 

"I must plead guilty to the surprise, " the Duke confessed courteously. "There is something exceedingly familiar about your face, sir, but Icannot remember having had the privilege of meeting you. "

"You see, " Caroline observed, "I am not the only one, Everard, who didnot accept you upon a glance. This is Everard Dominey, Henry, returnedfrom foreign exile and regenerated in every sense of the word. "

"How do you do?" Dominey said, holding out his hand. "I seem to berather a surprise to every one, but I hope you haven't quite forgottenme. "

"God bless my soul!" the Duke exclaimed. "You don't mean to say thatyou're really Everard Dominey?"

"I am he, beyond a doubt, " was the calm assurance. 

"Most amazing!" the Duke declared, as he shook hands. "Most amazing! Inever saw such a change in my life. Yes, yes, I see--same complexion, of course--nose and eyes--yes, yes! But you seem taller, and you carryyourself like a soldier. Dear, dear me! Africa has done wonderfully byyou. Delighted, my dear Everard! Delighted!"

"You'll be more delighted still when you hear the rest of the news, " hiswife remarked drily. "In the meantime, do present your friend. "

"Precisely so, " the Duke acquiesced, turning to the young man in thebackground. "Most sorry, my dear Captain Bartram. The unexpected returnof a connection of my wife must be my apology for this lapse of manners. Let me present you to the Duchess. Captain Bartram is just back fromGermany, my dear, and is an enthusiastic supporter of our cause. --SirEverard Dominey. "

Caroline shook hands kindly with her husband's protege, and Domineyexchanged a solemn handshake with him. 

"You, too, are one of those, then, Captain Bartram, who are convincedthat Germany has evil designs upon us?" the former said, smiling. 

"I have just returned from Germany after twelve months' stay there, "the young soldier replied. "I went with an open mind. I have comeback convinced that we shall be at war with Germany within a couple ofyears. "

The Duke nodded vigorously. 

"Our young friend is right, " he declared. "Three times a week for manymonths I have been drumming the fact into the handful of wooden-headedEnglishmen who have deigned to come to our meetings. I have made myselfa nuisance to the House of Lords and the Press. It is a terrible thingto realise how hard it is to make an Englishman reflect, so long as heis making money and having a good time. --You are just back from Africa, Everard?"

"Within a week, sir. "

"Did you see anything of the Germans out there? Were you anywhere neartheir Colony?"

"I have been in touch with them for some years, " Dominey replied. 

"Most interesting!" his questioner exclaimed. "You may be of service tous, Everard. You may, indeed! Now tell me, isn't it true that they havesecret agents out there, trying to provoke unsettlement and disquietamongst the Boers? Isn't it true that they apprehend a war with Englandbefore very long and are determined to stir up the Colony against us?"

"I am very sorry, " Dominey replied, "but I am not a politician in anyshape or form. All the Germans whom I have met out there seem a mostpeaceful race of men, and there doesn't seem to be the slightestdiscontent amongst the Boers or any one else. "

The Duke's face fell. "This is very surprising. "

"The only people who seem to have any cause for discontent, " Domineycontinued, "are the English settlers. I didn't commence to do any goodmyself there till a few years ago, but I have heard some queer storiesabout the way our own people were treated after the war. "

"What you say about South Africa, Sir Everard, " the young soldierremarked, "is naturally interesting, but I am bound to say that it is indirect opposition to all I have heard. "

"And I, " the Duke echoed fervently. 

"I have lived there for the last eleven years, " Dominey continued, "andalthough I spent the earlier part of that time trekking after big game, lately I am bound to confess that every thought and energy I possesshave been centered upon money-making. For that reason, perhaps, myobservations may have been at fault. I shall claim the privilege ofcoming to one of your first meetings, Duke, and of trying to understandthis question. "

His august connection blinked at him a little curiously for a momentbehind his glasses. 

"My dear Everard, " he said, "forgive my remarking it, but I find youmore changed than I could have believed possible. "

"Everard is changed in more ways than one, " his wife observed, withfaint irony. 

Dominey, who had risen to leave, bent over her hand. 

"What about my dinner party, sir?" she added. 

"As soon as I return from Norfolk, " he replied. 

"Dominey Hall will really find you?" she asked a little curiously. 

"Most certainly!"

There was again that little flutter of fear in her eyes, followed by amomentary flash of admiration. Dominey shook hands gravely with his hostand nodded to Bertram. The servant whom the Duchess had summoned stoodholding the curtains on one side. 

"I shall hope to see you again shortly, Duke, " Dominey said, as hecompleted his leave-taking. "There is a little matter of business to beadjusted between us. You will probably hear from Mr. Mangan in a day ortwo. "

The Duke gazed after the retreating figure of this very amazing visitor. When the curtains had fallen he turned to his wife. 

"A little matter of business, " he repeated. "I hope you have explainedto Everard, my dear, that although, of course, we are very glad to seehim back again, it is absolutely hopeless for him to look to me for anyfinancial assistance at the present moment. "

Caroline smiled. 

"Everard was alluding to the money he already owes you, " she explained. "He intends to repay it at once. He is also paying off the Domineymortgages. He has apparently made a fortune in Africa. "

The Duke collapsed into an easy-chair. 

"Everard pay his debts?" he exclaimed. "Everard Dominey pay off themortgages?"

"That is what I understand, " his wife acquiesced. 

The Duke clutched at the last refuge of a weak but obstinate man. Hismouth came together like a rat-trap. 

"There's something wrong about it somewhere, " he declared. 

CHAPTER VI

Dominey spent a very impatient hour that evening in his sitting-room atthe Carlton, waiting for Seaman. It was not until nearly seven that thelatter appeared. 

"Are you aware, " Dominey asked him, "that I am expected to call upon thePrincess Eiderstrom at seven o'clock?"

"I have your word for it, " Seaman replied, "but I see no tragedy in thesituation. The Princess is a woman of sense and a woman of politicalinsight. While I cannot recommend you to take her entirely into yourconfidence, I still think that a middle course can be judiciouslypursued. "

"Rubbish!" Dominey exclaimed. "As Leopold Von Ragastein, the Princesshas indisputable claims upon me and my liberty, claims which wouldaltogether interfere with the career of Everard Dominey. "

With methodical neatness, Seaman laid his hat, gloves and walking stickupon the sideboard. He then looked into the connecting bedroom, closedand fastened the door and extended himself in an easy-chair. 

"Sit opposite to me, my friend, " he said. "We will talk together. "

Dominey obeyed a little sullenly. His companion, however, ignored hisdemeanour. 

"Now, my friend, " he said, beating upon the palm of one hand with theforefinger of his other, "I am a man of commerce and I do things in abusiness way. Let us take stock of our position. Three months ago thisvery week, we met by appointment at a certain hotel in Cape Town. "

"Only three months, " Dominey muttered. 

"We were unknown to one another, " Seaman continued. "I had only heard ofthe Baron Von Ragastein as a devoted German citizen and patriot, engagedin an important enterprise in East Africa by special intercession of theKaiser, on account of a certain unfortunate happening in Hungary. "

"I killed a man in a duel, " Dominey said slowly, with his eyes fixedupon his companion's. "It was not an unforgivable act. "

"There are duels and duels. A fight between two young men, in defence ofthe honour of or to gain the favour of a young lady in their own stationof life, has never been against the conventions of the Court. On theother hand, to become the lover of the wife of one of the greatestnobles in Hungary, and to secure possession by killing the husbandin the duel which his honour makes a necessity is looked upon verydifferently. "

"I had no wish to kill the Prince, " Dominey protested, "nor was it at mydesire that we met at all. The Prince fought like a madman and slipped, after a wild lunge, on to the point of my stationary sword. "

"Let that pass, " Seaman said. "I am not of your order and I probably donot understand the etiquette of these matters. I simply look upon you asa culprit in the eyes of our master, and I feel that he has a right todemand from you much in the way of personal sacrifice. "

"Perhaps you will tell me, " Dominey demanded, "what more he would have?I have spent weary years in a godless and fever-ridden country, raisingup for our arms a great troop of natives. I have undertaken otherpolitical commissions in the Colony which may bear fruit. I am to takeup the work for which I was originally intended, for which I wasgiven an English education. I am to repair to England, and, under suchidentity as I might assume after consultation with you at Cape Town, I am to render myself so far as possible a _persona grata_ in thatcountry. I do not wait for our meeting. I see a great chance and I makeuse of it. I transform myself into an English country gentleman, and Ithink you will admit that I have done so with great success. "

"All that you say is granted, " Seaman agreed. "You met me at Cape Townin your new identity, and you certainly seemed to wear it wonderfully. You have made it uncommonly expensive, but we do not grudge money. "

"I could not return home to a poverty-stricken domain, " Dominey pointedout. "I should have held no place whatever in English social life, andI should have received no welcome from those with whom I imagine youdesire me to stand well. "

"Again I make no complaints, " Seaman declared. "There is no bottomto our purse, nor any stint. Neither must there be any stint to ourloyalty, " he added gravely. 

"In this instance, " Dominey protested, "it is not a matter of loyalty. Everard Dominey cannot throw himself at the feet of the PrincessEiderstrom, well-known to be one of the most passionate women in Europe, whilst her love affair with Leopold Von Ragastein is still remembered. Remember that the question of our identities might crop up any day. Wewere friends over here in England, at school and at college, and thereare many who still remember the likeness between us. Perfectly thoughI may play my part, here and there there may be doubts. There will bedoubts no longer if I am to be dragged at the chariot wheels of thePrincess. "

Seaman was silent for a moment. 

"There is reason in what you say, " he admitted presently. "It is for afew months only. What is your proposition?"

"That you see the Princess in my place at once, " Dominey suggestedeagerly. "Point out to her that for the present, for political reasons, I am and must remain Everard Dominey, to her as to the rest of theworld. Let her be content with such measure of friendship and admirationas Sir Everard Dominey might reasonably offer to a beautiful woman whomhe met to-day for the first time, and I am entirely and with all myheart at her service. But let her remember that even between us two, inthe solitude of her room as in the drawing-room where we might meet, it can be Everard Dominey only until my mission is ended. You think, perhaps, that I lay unnecessary stress upon this. I do not. I know thePrincess and I know myself. "

Seaman glanced at the clock. "At what hour was your appointment?"

"It was not an appointment, it was a command, " Dominey replied. "I wastold to be at Belgrave Square at seven o'clock. "

"I will have an understanding with the Princess, " promised Seaman, ashe took up his hat. "Dine with me downstairs at eight o'clock on myreturn. "

Dominey, descending about an hour later, found his friend Seaman alreadyestablished at a small, far-away table set in one of the recesses ofthe grill room. He was welcomed with a little wave of the hand, andcocktails were at once ordered. 

"I have done your errand, " Seaman announced. "Since my visit I am boundto admit that I realise a little more fully your anxiety. "

"You probably had not met the Princess before?"

"I had not. I must confess that I found her a lady of somewhatoverpowering temperament. I fancy, my young friend, " Seaman continued, with a twitch at the corner of his lips, "that somewhere about Augustnext year you will find your hands full. "

"August next year can take care of itself, " was the cool reply. 

"In the meantime, " Seaman continued, "the Princess understands thesituation and is, I think, impressed. She will at any rate do nothingrash. You and she will meet within the course of the next few hours, buton reasonable terms. To proceed! As I drove back here after my interviewwith the Princess, I decided that it was time you made the acquaintanceof the person who is chiefly responsible for your presence here. "

"Terniloff?"

"Precisely! You have maintained, my young friend, " Seaman went on aftera brief pause, during which one waiter had brought their cocktails andanother received their order for dinner, "a very discreet and laudablesilence with regard to those further instructions which were promisedto you immediately you should arrive in London. Those instructions willnever be committed to writing. They are here. "

Seaman touched his forehead and drained the remaining contents of hisglass. 

"My instructions are to trust you absolutely, " Dominey observed, "and, until the greater events stir, to concentrate the greater part of myenergies in leading the natural life of the man whose name and place Ihave taken. "

"Quite so, " Seaman acquiesced. 

He glanced around the room for a moment or two, as though interestedin the people. Satisfied at last that there was no chance of beingoverheard, he continued:

"The first idea you have to get out of your head, my dear friend, if itis there, is that you are a spy. You are nothing of the sort. You arenot connected with our remarkably perfect system of espionage in theslightest degree. You are a free agent in all that you may choose to sayor do. You can believe in Germany or fear her--whichever you like. Youcan join your cousin's husband in his crusade for National Service, or you can join me in my efforts to cement the bonds of friendship andaffection between the citizens of the two countries. We really do notcare in the least. Choose your own part. Give yourself thoroughly intothe life of Sir Everard Dominey, Baronet, of Dominey Hall, Norfolk, andpursue exactly the course which you think Sir Everard himself would belikely to take. "

"This, " Dominey admitted, "is very broad-minded. "

"It is common sense, " was the prompt reply. "With all your ability, youcould not in six months' time appreciably affect the position eitherway. Therefore, we choose to have you concentrate the whole of yourenergies upon one task and one task only. If there is anything of thespy about your mission here, it is not England or the English whichare to engage your attention. We require you to concentrate wholly andentirely upon Terniloff. "

Dominey was startled. 

"Terniloff?" he repeated. "I expected to work with him, but--"

"Empty your mind of all preconceived ideas, " Seaman enjoined. "What yourduties are with regard to Terniloff will grow upon you gradually as thesituation develops. "

"As yet, " Dominey remarked, "I have not even made his acquaintance. "

"I was on the point of telling you, earlier in our conversation, that Ihave made an appointment for you to see him at eleven o'clock to-nightat the Embassy. You will go to him at that hour. Remember, you knownothing, you are waiting for instructions. Let speech remain with himalone. Be particularly careful not to drop him a hint of your knowledgeof what is coming. You will find him absolutely satisfied with thesituation, absolutely content. Take care not to disturb him. He is amissioner of peace. So are you. "

"I begin to understand, " Dominey said thoughtfully. 

"You shall understand everything when the time comes for you to take ahand, " Seaman promised, "and do not in your zeal forget, my friend, thatyour utility to our great cause will depend largely upon your being ableto establish and maintain your position as an English gentleman. So farall has gone well?"

"Perfectly, so far as I am concerned, " Dominey replied. "You mustremember, though, that there is your end to keep up. Berlin will bereceiving frantic messages from East Africa as to my disappearance. Noteven my immediate associates were in the secret. "

"That is all understood, " Seaman assured his companion. "A little doctornamed Schmidt has spent many marks of the Government money in franticcables. You must have endeared yourself to him. "

"He was a very faithful associate. "

"He has been a very troublesome friend. It seems that the natives gottheir stories rather mixed up concerning your namesake, who apparentlydied in the bush, and Schmidt continually emphasised your promise tolet him hear from Cape Town. However, all this has been dealt withsatisfactorily. The only real dangers are over here, and so far you seemto have encountered the principal ones. "

"I have at any rate been accepted, " Dominey declared, "by my nearestliving relative, and incidentally I have discovered the one far-seeingperson in England who knows what is in store for us. "

Seaman was momentarily anxious. 

"Whom do you mean?"

"The Duke of Worcester, my cousin's husband, of whom you were speakingjust now. "

The little man's face relaxed. 

"He reminds me of the geese who saved the Capitol, " he said, "abrainless man obsessed with one idea. It is queer how often thesefanatics discover the truth. That reminds me, " he added, taking a smallmemorandum book from his waistcoat pocket and glancing it through. "HisGrace has a meeting to-night at the Holborn Town Hall. I shall make oneof my usual interruptions. "

"If he has so small a following, why don't you leave him alone?" Domineyenquired. 

"There are others associated with him, " was the placid reply, "whoare not so insignificant. Besides, when I interrupt I advertise my ownlittle hobby. "

"These--we English are strange people, " Dominey remarked, glancingaround the room after a brief but thoughtful pause. "We advertiseand boast about our colossal wealth, and yet we are incapable ofthe slightest self-sacrifice in order to preserve it. One would haveimagined that our philosophers, our historians, would warn us inirresistible terms, by unanswerable scientific deduction, of what wascoming. "

"My compliments to your pronouns, " Seaman murmured, with a little bow. "Apropos of what you were saying, you will never make an Englishman--Ibeg your pardon, one of your countrymen--realise anything unpleasant. He prefers to keep his head comfortably down in the sand. But to leavegeneralities, when do you think of going to Norfolk?"

"Within the next few days, " Dominey replied. 

"I shall breathe more freely when you are securely establishedthere, " his companion declared. "Great things wait upon your completeacceptance, in the country as well as in town, as Sir Everard Dominey. You are sure that you perfectly understand your position there asregards your--er--domestic affairs?"

"I understand all that is necessary, " was the somewhat stiff reply. 

"All that is necessary is not enough, " Seaman rejoined irritably. "I thought that you had wormed the whole story out of that drunkenEnglishman?"

"He told me most of it. There were just one or two points which laybeyond the limits where questioning was possible. "

Seaman frowned angrily. 

"In other words, " he complained, "you remembered that you were agentleman and not that you were a German. "

"The Englishman of a certain order, " Dominey pronounced, "even thoughhe be degenerate, has a certain obstinacy, generally connected with oneparticular thing, which nothing can break. We talked together on thatlast night until morning; we drank wine and brandy. I tore the story ofmy own exile from my breast and laid it bare before him. Yet I knew allthe time, as I know now, that he kept something back. "

There was a brief pause. During the last few minutes a certaintension had crept in between the two men. With it, their personalcharacteristics seemed to have become intensified. Dominey was morethan ever the aristocrat; Seaman the plebian schemer, unabashed anddesperately in earnest. He leaned presently a little way across thetable. His eyes had narrowed but they were as bright as steel. His teethwere more prominent than usual. 

"You should have dragged it from his throat, " he insisted. "It is notyour duty to nurse fine personal feelings. Heart and soul you standpledged to great things. I cannot at this moment give you any idea whatyou may not mean to us after the trouble has come, if you are able toplay your part still in this country as Everard Dominey of DomineyHall. I know well enough that the sense of personal honour amongst thePrussian aristocracy is the finest in the world, and yet there is not asingle man of your order who should not be prepared to lie or cheatfor his country's sake. You must fall into line with your fellows. Oncemore, it is not only your task with regard to Terniloff which makesyour recognition as Everard Dominey so important to us. It is the thingswhich are to come later. --Come, enough of this subject. I know that youunderstand. We grow too serious. How shall you spend your evening untileleven o'clock? Remember you did not leave England an anchorite, SirEverard. You must have your amusements. Why not try a music hall?"

"My mind is too full of other things, " Dominey objected. 

"Then come with me to Holborn, " the little man suggested. "It will amuseyou. We will part at the door, and you shall sit at the back of thehall, out of sight. You shall hear the haunting eloquence of yourcousin-in-law. You shall hear him trying to warn the men and women ofEngland of the danger awaiting them from the great and rapacious Germannation. What do you say?"

"I will come, " Dominey replied in spiritless fashion. "It will be betterthan a music hall, at any rate. I am not at all sure, Seaman, thatthe hardest part of my task over here will not be this necessity forself-imposed amusements. "

His companion struck the table gently but impatiently with his clenchedfist. 

"Man, you are young!" he exclaimed. "You are like the rest of us. Youcarry your life in your hands. Don't nourish past griefs. Cast thememory of them away. There's nothing which narrows a man more thanmorbidness. You have a past which may sometimes bring the ghostsaround you, but remember the sin was not wholly yours, and there isan atonement which in measured fashion you may commence whenever youplease. I have said enough about that. Greatness and gaiety go hand inhand. There! You see, I was a philosopher before I became a professor ofpropaganda. Good! You smile. That is something gained, at any rate. Nowwe will take a taxicab to Holborn and I will show you something reallyhumorous. "

At the entrance to the town hall, the two men, at Seaman's instigation, parted, making their way inside by different doors. Dominey found aretired seat under a balcony, where he was unlikely to be recognisedfrom the platform. Seaman, on the other hand, took up a more prominentposition at the end of one of the front rows of benches. The meeting wasby no means overcrowded, over-enthusiastic, over-anything. There wererows of empty benches, a good many young couples who seemed to havecome in for shelter from the inclement night, a few sturdy, respectable-looking tradesmen who had come because it seemed to be therespectable thing to do, a few genuinely interested, and here andthere, although they were decidedly in the minority, a sprinkling ofenthusiasts. On the platform was the Duke, with civic dignitaries oneither side of him; a distinguished soldier, a Member of Parliament, ahalf-dozen or so of nondescript residents from the neighbourhood, andCaptain Bartram. The meeting was on the point of commencement as Domineysettled down in his corner. 

First of all the Duke rose, and in a few hackneyed but earnest sentencesintroduced his young friend Captain Bartram. The latter, who sprang atonce into the middle of his subject, was nervous and more than alittle bitter. He explained that he had resigned his commission andwas therefore free to speak his mind. He spoke of enormous militarypreparations in Germany and a general air of tense expectation. Againstwhom were these preparations? Without an earthly doubt against Germany'sgreatest rival, whose millions of young men, even in this hour ofdanger, preferred playing or watching football or cricket on Saturdayafternoons to realising their duty. The conclusion of an ill-pointed butearnest speech was punctuated by the furtive entrance into the hall ofa small boy selling evening newspapers, and there was a temporarydiversion from any interest in the proceedings on the part of theyounger portion of the audience, whilst they satisfied themselves as tothe result of various Cup Ties. The Member of Parliament then descendedupon them in a whirlwind of oratory and in his best House of Commonsstyle. He spoke of black clouds and of the cold breeze that went beforethe coming thunderstorm. He pointed to the collapse of every greatnation throughout history who had neglected the arts of self-defence. Heappealed to the youth of the nation to prepare themselves to guard theirwomenkind, their homes, the sacred soil of their country, and at thatpoint was interrupted by a drowsy member of the audience with stentorianlungs, who seemed just at that moment to have waked up. 

"What about the Navy, guv'nor?"

The orator swept upon the interrupter in his famous platform manner. TheNavy, he declared, could be trusted at all times to do its duty, butit could not fight on sea and land. Would the young man who had justinterrupted do his, and enroll his name for drill and national servicethat evening?--and so on. The distinguished soldier, who was sufferingfrom a cold, fired off a few husky sentences only, to the tune ofrounds of applause. The proceedings were wound up by the Duke, who wasobviously, with the exception of the distinguished soldier, much morein earnest than any of them, and secured upon the whole a respectfulattention. He brought in a few historical allusions, pleaded for agreater spirit of earnestness and citizenship amongst the men ofthe country, appealed even to the women to develop their sense ofresponsibility, and sat down amidst a little burst of quite enthusiasticapplause. --The vote of thanks to the chairman was on the point of beingproposed when Mr. Seaman, standing up in his place, appealed to thechairman for permission to say a few words. The Duke, who had had someexperience with Mr. Seaman before, looked at him severely, but thesmile with which Mr. Seaman looked around upon the audience was sogood-natured and attractive, that he had no alternative but toassent. Seaman scrambled up the steps on to the platform, coughedapologetically, bowed to the Duke, and took possession of the meeting. After a word or two of compliment to the chairman, he made hisconfession. He was a German citizen--he was indeed one of thatbloodthirsty race. (Some laughter. ) He was also, and it was his excusefor standing there, the founder and secretary of a league, doubtlesswell known to them, a league for promoting more friendly relationsbetween the business men of Germany and England. Some of the remarkswhich he had heard that evening had pained him deeply. Business oftentook him to Germany, and as a German he would be doing less than hisduty if he did not stand up there and tell them that the average Germanloved the Englishman like a brother, that the object of his life was tocome into greater kinship with him, that Germany even at that moment, was standing with hand outstretched to her relatives across the NorthSea, begging for a deeper sympathy, begging for a larger understanding. (Applause from the audience, murmurs of dissent from the platform. ) Andas to those military preparations of which they had heard so much (witha severe glance at Captain Bartram), let them glance for one moment atthe frontiers of Germany, let them realise that eastwards Germany wasbeing continually pressed by an ancient and historic foe of enormousstrength. He would not waste their time telling them of the politicaldifficulties which Germany had had to face during the last generation. He would simply tell them this great truth, --the foe for whom Germanywas obliged to make these great military preparations was Russia. If ever they were used it would be against Russia, and at Russia'sinstigation. --In his humble way he was striving for the bettermentof relations between the dearly beloved country of his birth andthe equally beloved country of his adoption. Such meetings as these, instituted, as it seemed to him, for the propagation of unfair andunjustified suspicions, were one of the greatest difficulties in hisway. He could not for a moment doubt that these gentlemen upon theplatform were patriots. They would prove it more profitably, both tothemselves and their country, if they abandoned their present prejudicedand harmful campaign and became patrons of his Society. 

Seaman's little bow to the chairman was good-humoured, tolerant, alittle wistful. The Duke's few words, prefaced by an indignant protestagainst the intrusion of a German propagandist into an English patrioticmeeting, did nothing to undo the effect produced by this undesiredstranger. When the meeting broke up, it was doubtful whether a singleadherent had been gained to the cause of National Service. The Duke wenthome full of wrath, and Seaman chuckled with genuine merriment as hestepped into the taxi which Dominey had secured, at the corner of thestreet. 

"I promised you entertainment, " he observed. "Confess that I have keptmy word. "

Dominey smiled enigmatically. "You certainly succeeded in making foolsof a number of respectable and well-meaning men. "

"The miracle of it extends further, " Seaman agreed. "To-night, inits small way, is a supreme example of the transcendental follies ofdemocracy. England is being slowly choked and strangled with too muchliberty. She is like a child being overfed with jam. Imagine, in ourdear country, an Englishman being allowed to mount the platform andspout, undisturbed, English propaganda in deadly opposition to Germaninterests. The so-called liberty of the Englishman is like the cuckooin his political nest. Countries must be governed. They cannot governthemselves. The time of war will prove all that. "

"Yet in any great crisis of a nation's history, " Dominey queried, "surely there is safety in a multitude of counsellors?"

"There would be always a multitude of counsellors, " Seaman replied, "inGermany as in England. The trouble for this country is that they wouldbe all expressed publicly and in the press, each view would have itsadherents, and the Government be split up into factions. In Germany, the real destinies of the country are decided in secret. There arecounsellors there, too, earnest and wise counsellors, but no one knowstheir varying views. All that one learns is the result, spoken throughthe lips of the Kaiser, spoken once and for all. "

Dominey was showing signs of a rare interest in his companion'sconversation. His eyes were bright, his usually impassive featuresseemed to have become more mobile and strained. He laid his hand onSeaman's arm. 

"Listen, " he said, "we are in London, alone in a taxicab, secure againstany possible eavesdropping. You preach the advantage of our Kaiser-ledcountry. Do you really believe that the Kaiser is the man for the taskwhich is coming?"

Seaman's narrow eyes glittered. He looked at his companion insatisfaction. His forehead was puckered, his eternal smile gone. He wasthe man of intellect. 

"So you are waking up from the lethargy of Africa, my friend!" heexclaimed. "You are beginning to think. As you ask me, so shall Ianswer. The Kaiser is a vain, bombastic dreamer, the greatest egotistwho ever lived, with a diseased personality, a ceaseless craving for thelimelight. But he has also the genius for government. I mean this: heis a splendid medium for the expression of the brain power of hiscounsellors. Their words will pass through his personality, and he willbelieve them his. What is more, they will sound like his. He will seehimself the knight in shining armour. All Europe will bow down beforethis self-imagined Caesar, and no one except we who are behind willrealise the ass's head. There is no one else in this world whom I haveever met so well fitted to lead our great nation on to the destiny shedeserves. --And now, my friend, to-morrow, if you like, we will speak ofthese matters again. To-night, you have other things to think about. You are going into the great places where I never penetrate. You have anhour to change and prepare. At eleven o'clock the Prince Von Terniloffwill expect you. "

CHAPTER VII

There had been a dinner party and a very small reception afterwardsat the great Embassy in Carlton House Terrace. The Ambassador, PrinceTerniloff, was bidding farewell to his wife's cousin, the PrincessEiderstrom, the last of his guests. She drew him on one side for amoment. 

"Your Excellency, " she said, "I have been hoping for a word with you allthe evening. "

"And I with you, dear Stephanie, " he answered. "It is very early. Let ussit down for a moment. "

He led her towards a settee but she shook her head. 

"You have an appointment at half-past eleven, " she said. "I wish you tokeep it. "

"You know, then?"

"I lunched to-day at the Carleton grill room. In the reception-room Icame face to face with Leopold Von Ragastein. "

The Ambassador made no remark. It seemed to be his wish to hear firstall that his companion had to say. After a moment's pause she continued:

"I spoke to him, and he denied himself. To me! I think that those werethe most terrible seconds of my life. I have never suffered more. Ishall never suffer so much again. "

"It was most unfortunate, " the Prince murmured sympathetically. 

"This evening, " she went on, "I received a visit from a man whom I tookat first to be an insignificant member of the German bourgeoisie. Ilearnt something of his true position later. He came to me to explainthat Leopold was engaged in this country on secret service, that hewas passing under the name which he gave me, --Sir Everard Dominey, anEnglish baronet, long lost in Africa. You know of this?"

"I know that to-night I am receiving a visit from Sir Everard Dominey. "

"He is to work under your auspices?"

"By no means, " the Prince rejoined warmly. "I am not favourably inclinedtowards this network of espionage. The school of diplomacy in which Ihave been brought up tries to work without such ignoble means. "

"One realises that, " she said. "Leopold is coming, however, to-night, topay his respects to you. "

"He is waiting for me now in my study, " the Ambassador asserted. 

"You will do me the service of conveying to him a message from me, "she continued. "This man Seaman pointed out to me the unwisdom of anyassociation between myself and Leopold, under present conditions. Ilistened to all that he had to say. I reserved my decision. I havenow considered the matter. I will compromise with necessity. I will becontent with the acquaintance of Sir Everard Dominey, but that I willhave. "

"For myself, " the Ambassador reflected, "I do not even know what VonRagastein's mission over here is, but if in Berlin they decide that, forthe more complete preservation of his incognito, association between youand him is undesirable--"

She laid her fingers upon his arm. 

"Stop!" she ordered. "I am not of Berlin. I am not a German. I am noteven an Austrian. I am Hungarian, and though I am willing to study yourinterests, I am not willing to place them before my own life. I maketerms, but I do not surrender. Those terms I will discuss with Leopold. Ah, be kind to me!" she went on, with a sudden change of voice. "Sincethese few minutes at midday I have lived in a dream. Only one thing canquiet me. I must speak to him. I must decide with him what I will do. You will help?"

"An acquaintance between you and Sir Everard Dominey, " he admitted, "iscertainly a perfectly natural thing. "

"Look at me, " she begged. 

He turned and looked into her face. Underneath her beautiful eyes weredark lines; there was something pitiful about the curve of her mouth. Heremembered that although she had carried herself throughout the eveningwith all the dignity which was second nature to her, he had overheardmore than one sympathetic comment upon her appearance. 

"I can see that you are suffering, " he remarked kindly. 

"My eyes are hot, and inside I am on fire, " she continued. "I must speakto Leopold. Freda has asked me to stay and talk to her for an hour. Mycar waits. Arrange that he drives me home. Oh! believe me, dear friend, I am a very human woman, and there is nothing in the world to be gainedby treating me as though I were of wood or stone. To-night I can seehim without observation. If you refuse, I shall take other means. Iwill make no promises. I will not even promise that I will not call outbefore him in the streets that he is a liar, that his life is a lie. Iwill call him Leopold Von Ragastein--"

"Hush!" he begged her. "Stephanie, you are nervous. I have not yetanswered your entreaty. "

"You consent?"

"I consent, " he promised. "After our interview, I shall bring the youngman to Freda's room and present him. You will be there. He can offer youhis escort. "

She suddenly stooped and kissed his hand. An immense relief was in herface. 

"Now I will keep you no longer. Freda is waiting for me. "

The Ambassador strolled thoughtfully away into his own den at the backof the house, where Dominey was waiting for him. 

"I am glad to see you, " the former said, holding out his hand. "For fiveminutes I desire to talk to your real self. After that, for the rest ofyour time in England, I will respect your new identity. "

Dominey bowed in silence. His host pointed to the sideboard. 

"Come, " he continued, "there are cigars and cigarettes at your elbow, whisky and soda on the sideboard. Make yourself at home in that chairthere. Africa has rally changed you very little. Do you remember ourprevious meeting, in Saxony?"

"I remember it perfectly, your Excellency. "

"His Majesty knew how to keep Court in those days, " the Ambassador wenton. "One was tempted to believe oneself at an English country party. However, that much of the past. You know, of course, that I entirelydisapprove of your present position here?"

"I gathered as much, your Excellency. "

"We will have no reserves with one another, " the Prince declared, lighting a cigar. "I know quite well that you form part of a network ofespionage in this country which I consider wholly unnecessary. That issimply a question of method. I have no doubt that you are here with thesame object as I am, the object which the Kaiser has declared to me withhis own lips is nearest to his heart--to cement the bonds of friendshipbetween Germany and England. "

"You believe, sir, that that is possible?"

"I am convinced of it, " was the earnest reply. "I do not know what theexact nature of your work over here is to be, but I am glad to havean opportunity of putting before you my convictions. I believe thatin Berlin the character of some of the leading statesmen here has beenmisunderstood and misrepresented. I find on all sides of me an earnestand sincere desire for peace. I have convinced myself that there is nota single statesman in this country who is desirous of war with Germany. "

Dominey was listening intently, with the air of one who hears unexpectedthings. 

"But, your Excellency, " he ventured, "what about the matter from ourpoint of view? There are a great many in our country, whom you and Iknow of, who look forward to a war with England as inevitable. Germanymust become, we all believe, the greatest empire in the world. She mustclimb there, as one of our friends once said, with her foot upon theneck of the British lion. "

"You are out of date, " the Ambassador declared earnestly. "I see now whythey sent you to me. Those days have passed. There is room in the worldfor Great Britain and for Germany. The disintegration of Russia in thenear future is a certainty. It is eastward that we must look for anygreat extension of territory. "

"These things have been decided?"

"Absolutely! They form the soul of my mission here. My mandate is one ofpeace, and the more I see of English statesmen and the more I understandthe British outlook, the more sanguine I am as to the success of myefforts. This is why all this outside espionage with which Seaman is solargely concerned seems to me at times unwise and unnecessary. "

"And my own mission?" Dominey enquired. 

"Its nature, " the Prince replied, "is not as yet divulged, but if, as Ihave been given to understand, it is to become closely connected with myown, then I am very sure you will presently find that its text also isPeace. "

Dominey rose to his feet, prepared to take his leave. 

"These matters will be solved for us, " he murmured. 

"There is just one word more, on a somewhat more private matter, "Terniloff said in an altered tone. "The Princess Eiderstrom isupstairs. "

"In this house?"

"Waiting for a word with you. Our friend Seaman has been with her thisevening. I understand that she is content to subscribe to the presentsituation. She makes one condition, however. "

"And that?"

"She insists upon it that I present Sir Everard Dominey. "

The latter did not attempt to conceal his perturbation. 

"I need scarcely point out to you, sir, " he protested, "that anyassociation between the Princess and myself is likely to largelyincrease the difficulties of my position here. "

The Ambassador sighed. 

"I quite appreciate that, " he admitted. "Both Seaman and I haveendeavoured to reason with her, but, as you are doubtless aware, thePrincess is a woman of very strong will. She is also very powerfullyplaced here, and it is the urgent desire of the Court at Berlin toplacate in every way the Hungarian nobility. You will understand, ofcourse, that I speak from a political point of view only. I cannotignore the fact of your unfortunate relations with the late Prince, butin considering the present position you will, I am sure, remember thegreater interests. "

His visitor was silent for a moment. 

"You say that the Princess is waiting here?"

"She is with my wife and asks for your escort home. My wife also looksforward to the pleasure of renewing her acquaintance with you. "

"I shall accept your Excellency's guidance in the matter, " Domineydecided. 

The Princess Terniloff was a woman of world culture, an artist, andstill an extremely attractive woman. She received the visitor whom herhusband brought to her in a very charming little room furnished afterthe style of the simplest French period, and she did her best to relievethe strain of what she understood must be a somewhat trying moment. 

"We are delighted to welcome you to London, Sir Everard Dominey, " shesaid, taking his hand, "and I hope that we shall often see you here. Iwant to present you to my cousin, who is interested in you, I must tellyou frankly, because of your likeness to a very dear friend of hers. Stephanie, this is Sir Everard Dominey--the Princess Eiderstrom. "

Stephanie, who was seated upon the couch from which her cousin had justrisen, held out her hand to Dominey, who made her a very low and formalbow. Her gown was of unrelieved black. Wonderful diamonds flashed aroundher neck, and she wore also a tiara fashioned after the Hungarian style, a little low on her forehead. Her manner and tone still indicated somemeasure of rebellion against the situation. 

"You have forgiven me for my insistence this morning?" she asked. "Itwas hard for me to believe that you were not indeed the person for whomI mistook you. "

"Other people have spoken to me of the likeness, " Dominey replied. "Itis a matter of regret to me that I can claim to be no more than a simpleNorfolk baronet. "

"Without any previous experience of European Courts?"

"Without any at all. "

"Your German is wonderfully pure for an untravelled man. "

"Languages were the sole accomplishment I brought away from my misspentschool days. "

"You are not going to bury yourself in Norfolk, Sir Everard?" thePrincess Terniloff enquired. 

"Norfolk is very near London these days, " Dominey replied, "and I haveexperienced more than my share of solitude during the last few years. Ihope to spend a portion of my time here. "

"You must dine with us one night, " the Princess insisted, "and tell usabout Africa. My husband would be so interested. "

"You are very kind. "

Stephanie rose slowly to her feet, leaned gracefully over and kissed herhostess on both cheeks, and submitted her hand to the Prince, who raisedit to his lips. Then she turned to Dominey. 

"Will you be so kind as to see me home?" she asked. "Afterwards, my carcan take you on wherever you choose to go. "

"I shall be very happy, " Dominey assented. 

He, too, made his farewells. A servant in the hall handed him his hatand coat, and he took his place in the car by Stephanie's side. Shetouched the electric switch as they glided off. The car was in darkness. 

"I think, " she murmured, "that I could not have borne another moment ofthis juggling with words. Leopold--we are alone!"

He caught the flash of her jewels, the soft brilliance of her eyes asshe leaned towards him. His voice sounded, even to himself, harsh andstrident. 

"You mistake, Princess. My name is not Leopold. I am Everard Dominey. "

"Oh, I know that you are very obstinate, " she said softly, "veryobstinate and very devoted to your marvellous country, but you have asoul, Leopold; you know that there are human duties as great as any yourcountry ever imposed upon you. You know what I look for from you, what Imust find from you or go down into hell, ashamed and miserable. "

He felt his throat suddenly dry. 

"Listen, " he muttered, "until the hour strikes, I must remain to you asto the world, alone or in a crowd--Everard Dominey. There is one way andone way only of carrying through my appointed task. "

She gave a little hysterical sob. 

"Wait, " she begged. "I will answer you in a moment. Give me your hand. "

He opened the fingers which he had kept clenched together, and he feltthe hot grip of her hand, holding his passionately, drawing it towardher until the fingers of her other hand, too, fell upon it. So she satfor several moments. 

"Leopold, " she continued presently, "I understand. You are afraid thatI shall betray our love. You have reason. I am full of impulses andpassion, as you know, but I have restraint. What we are to one anotherwhen we are alone, no soul in this world need know. I will be careful. I swear it. I will never even look at you as though my heart ached foryour notice, when we are in the presence of other people. You shall comeand see me as seldom as you wish. I will receive you only as often asyou say. But don't treat me like this. Tell me you have come back. Throwoff this hideous mask, if it be only for a moment. "

He sat quite still, although her hands were tearing at his, her lips andeyes beseeching him. 

"Whatever may come afterwards, " he pronounced inexorably, "until thetime arrives I am Everard Dominey. I cannot take advantage of yourfeelings for Leopold Von Ragastein. He is not here. He is in Africa. Perhaps some day he will come back to you and be all that you wish. "

She flung his hands away. He felt her eyes burning into his, this timewith something more like furious curiosity. 

"Let me look at you, " she cried. "Let me be sure. Is this just someghastly change, or are you an imposter? My heart is growing chilled. Areyou the man I have waited for all these years? Are you the man to whomI have given my lips, for whose sake I offered up my reputation as asacrifice, the man who slew my husband and left me?"

"I was exiled, " he reminded her, his own voice shaking with emotion. "You know that. So far as other things are concerned, I am exiled now. Iam working out my expiation. "

She leaned back in her seat with an air of exhaustion. Her eyes closed. Then the car drove in through some iron gates and stopped in frontof her door, which was immediately opened. A footman hurried out. Sheturned to Dominey. 

"You will not enter, " she pleaded, "for a short time?"

"If you will permit me to pay you a visit, it will give me greatpleasure, " he answered formally. "I will call, if I may, on my returnfrom Norfolk. "

She gave him her hand with a sad smile. 

"Let my people take you wherever you want to go, " she invited, "andremember, " she added, dropping her voice, "I do not admit defeat. Thisis not the last word between us. "

She disappeared in some state, escorted through the great front door ofone of London's few palaces by an attractive major-domo and footman inthe livery of her House. Dominey drove back to the Carlton, where in thelounge he found the band playing, crowds still sitting around, amongstwhom Seaman was conspicuous, in his neat dinner clothes and with hischerubic air of inviting attention from prospective new acquaintances. He greeted Dominey enthusiastically. 

"Come, " he exclaimed, "I am weary of solitude! I have seen scarcely aface that I recognise. My tongue is parched with inaction. I like totalk, and there has been no one to talk to. I might as well have openedup my little house in Forest Hill. "

"I'll talk to you if you like, " Dominey promised a little grimly, glancing at the clock and hastily ordering a whisky and soda. "Iwill begin by telling you this, " he added, lowering his tone. "Ihave discovered the greatest danger I shall have to face during myenterprise. "

"What is that?"

"A woman--the Princess Eiderstrom. "

Seaman lit one of his inevitable cigars and threw one of his short, fatlegs over the other. He gazed for a moment with an air of satisfactionat his small foot, neatly encased in court shoes. 

"You surprise me, " he confessed. "I have considered the matter. I cannotsee any great difficulty. "

"Then you must be closing your eyes to it willfully, " Dominey retorted, "or else you are wholly ignorant of the Princess's temperament anddisposition. "

"I believe I appreciate both, " Seaman replied, "but I still do not seeany peculiar difficulty in the situation. As an English noblemanyou have a perfect right to enjoy the friendship of the PrincessEiderstrom. "

"And I thought you were a man of sentiment!" Dominey scoffed. "Ithought you understood a little of human nature. Stephanie Eiderstrom isHungarian born and bred. Even race has never taught her self-restraint. You don't seriously suppose that after all these years, after all shehas suffered--and she has suffered--she is going to be content with anemasculated form of friendship? I talk to you without reserve, Seaman. She has made it very plain to-night that she is going to be content withnothing of the sort. "

"What takes place between you in private, " Seaman began--

"Rubbish!" his companion interrupted. "The Princess is an impulsive, apassionate, a distinctly primitive woman, with a good deal of the wildanimal in her still. Plots or political necessities are not likely tocount a snap of the fingers with her. "

"But surely, " Seaman protested, "she must understand that your countryhas claimed you for a great work?"

Dominey shook his head. 

"She is not a German, " he pointed out. "On the contrary, like a greatmany other Hungarians, I think she rather dislikes Germany and Germans. Her only concern is the personal question between us. She considers thatevery moment of the rest of my life should be devoted to her. "

"Perhaps it is as well, " Seaman remarked, "that you have arranged to godown to-morrow to Dominey. I will think out a scheme. Something must bedone to pacify her. "

The lights were being put out. The two men rose a little unwillingly. Dominey felt singularly indisposed for sleep, but anxious at the sametime to get rid of his companion. They strolled into the darkened hallof the hotel together. 

"I will deal with the matter for you as well as I can, " Seaman promised. "To my mind, your greatest difficulty will be encountered to-morrow. Youknow what you have to deal with down at Dominey. "

Dominey's face was very set and grave. 

"I am prepared, " he said. 

Seaman still hesitated. 

"Do you remember, " he asked, "that when we talked over your plans atCape Town, you showed me a picture of--of Lady Dominey?"

"I remember. "

"May I have one more look at it?"

Dominey, with fingers that trembled a little, drew from the breastpocket of his coat a leather case, and from that a worn picture. Thetwo men looked at it side by side beneath one of the electric standardswhich had been left burning. The face was the face of a girl, almost achild, and the great eyes seemed filled with a queer, appealing light. There was something of the same suggestion to be found in the lips, acertain helplessness, an appeal for love and protection to some strongerbeing. 

Seaman turned away with a little grunt, and commented:

"Permitting myself to reassume for a moment or two the ordinarysentiments of an ordinary human being, I would sooner have a dozen ofyour Princesses to deal with than the original of that picture. "

CHAPTER VIII

"Your ancestral home, " Mr. Mangan observed, as the car turned the firstbend in the grass-grown avenue and Dominey Hall came into sight. "Damnedfine house, too!"

His companion made no reply. A storm had come up during the last fewminutes, and, as though he felt the cold, he had dragged his hat overhis eyes and turned his coat collar up to his ears. The house, with itsgreat double front, was now clearly visible--the time-worn, Elizabethan, red brick outline that faced the park southwards, and thestone-supported, grim and weather-stained back which confronted themarshes and the sea. Mr. Mangan continued to make amiable conversation. 

"We have kept the old place weathertight, somehow or other, " he said, "and I don't think you'll miss the timber much. We've taken it as far aspossible from the outlying woods. "

"Any from the Black Wood?" Dominey asked, without turning his head. 

"Not a stump, " he replied, "and for a very excellent reason. Not one ofthe woodmen would ever go near the place. "

"The superstition remains then?"

"The villagers are absolutely rabid about it. There are at least a dozenwho declare that they have seen the ghost of Roger Unthank, and a scoreor more who will swear by all that is holy that they have heard his callat night. "

"Does he still select the park and the terrace outside the house for hismidnight perambulations?" Dominey enquired. 

The lawyer hesitated. 

"The idea is, I believe, " he said, "that the ghost makes his way outfrom the wood and sits on the terrace underneath Lady Dominey's window. All bunkum, of course, but I can assure you that every servant andcaretaker we've had there has given notice within a month. That is thesole reason why I haven't ventured to recommend long ago that you shouldget rid of Mrs. Unthank. "

"She is still in attendance upon Lady Dominey, then?"

"Simply because we couldn't get any one else to stay there, " the lawyerexplained, "and her ladyship positively declines to leave the Hall. Between ourselves, I think it's time a change was made. We'll have achat after dinner, if you've no objection. --You see, we've left all thetrees in the park, " he went on, with an air of satisfaction. "Beautifulplace, this, in the springtime. I was down last May for a night, and Inever saw such buttercups in my life. The cows here were almost upto their knees in pasture, and the bluebells in the home woods werewonderful. The whole of the little painting colony down at Flankneyturned themselves loose upon the place last spring. "

"Some of the old wall is down, I see, " Dominey remarked with a frown, ashe gazed towards the enclosed kitchen garden. 

Mr. Mangan was momentarily surprised. 

"That wall has been down, to my knowledge, for twenty years, " hereminded his companion. 

Dominey nodded. "I had forgotten, " he muttered. 

"We wrote you, by the by, " the lawyer continued, "suggesting the saleof one or two of the pictures, to form a fund for repairs, but thankgoodness you didn't reply! We'll have some workpeople here as soon asyou've decided what you'd like done. I'm afraid, " he added, as theyturned in through some iron gates and entered the last sweep in front ofthe house, "you won't find many familiar faces to welcome you. There's Loveybond, the gardener, whom you would scarcely remember, andMiddleton, the head keeper, who has really been a godsend so far as thegame is concerned. No one at all indoors, except--Mrs. Unthank. "

The car drew up at that moment in front of the great porch. There wasnothing in the shape of a reception. They had even to ring the bellbefore the door was opened by a manservant sent down a few dayspreviously from town. In the background, wearing a brown velveteen coat, with breeches and leggings of corduroy, stood an elderly man with whiteside whiskers and skin as brown as a piece of parchment, leaning heavilyupon a long ash stick. Half a dozen maidservants, new importations, werevisible in the background, and a second man was taking possession of theluggage. Mr. Mangan took charge of the proceedings. 

"Middleton, " he said, resting his hand upon the old man's shoulder, "here's your master come back again. Sir Everard was very pleased tohear that you were still here; and you, Loveybond. "

The old man grasped the hand which Dominey stretched out with both ofhis. 

"I'm right glad you're back again, Squire, " he said, looking at him withcurious intentness, "and yet the words of welcome stick in my throat. "

"Sorry you feel like that about it, Middleton, " Dominey said pleasantly. "What is the trouble about my coming back?"

"That's no trouble, Squire, " the old man replied. "That's ajoy--leastways to us. It's what it may turn out to be for you whichmakes one hold back like. "

Dominey drew himself more than ever erect--a commanding figure in thelittle group. 

"You will feel better about it when we have had a day or two with thepheasants, Middleton, " he said reassuringly. "You have not changed much, Loveybond, " he added, turning to the man who had fallen a little intothe background, very stiff and uncomfortable in his Sunday clothes. 

"I thankee, Squire, " the latter replied a little awkwardly, with amotion of his hand towards his forehead. "I can't say the same for you, sir. Them furrin parts has filled you out and hardened you. I'll takethe liberty of saying that I should never have recognised you, sir, andthat's sure. "

"This is Parkins, " Mr. Mangan went on, pushing his way once more intothe foreground, "the butler whom I engaged in London. And--"

There was a queer and instantaneous silence. The little group ofmaidservants, who had been exchanging whispered confidences as to theirnew master's appearance, were suddenly dumb. All eyes were turned inone direction. A woman whose advent had been unperceived, but who hadevidently issued from one of the recesses of the hall, stood suddenlybefore them all. She was as thin as a lath, dressed in severe black, with grey hair brushed back from her head and not even a white collarat her neck. Her face was long and narrow, her features curiously large, her eyes filled with anger. She spoke very slowly, but with some tracein her intonation of a north-country dialect. 

"There's no place in this house for you, Everard Dominey, " she said, standing in front of him as though to bar his progress. "I wrote lastnight to stop you, but you've shown indecent haste in coming. There'sno place here for a murderer. Get back where you came from, back to yourhiding. "

"My good woman!" Mangan gasped. "This is really too much!"

"I've not come to bandy words with lawyers, " the woman retorted. "I'vecome to speak to him. Can you face me, Everard Dominey, you who murderedmy son and made a madwoman of your wife?"

The lawyer would have answered her, but Dominey waved him aside. 

"Mrs. Unthank, " he said sternly, "return to your duties at once, andunderstand that this house is mine, to enter or leave when I choose. "

She was speechless for a moment, amazed at the firmness of his words. 

"The house may be yours, Sir Everard Dominey, " she said threateningly, "but there's one part of it at least in which you won't dare to showyourself. "

"You forget yourself, woman, " he replied coldly. "Be so good as toreturn to your mistress at once, announce my coming, and say that I waitonly for her permission before presenting myself in her apartments. "

The woman laughed, unpleasantly, horribly. Her eyes were fixed uponDominey curiously. 

"Those are brave words, " she said. "You've come back a harder man. Letme look at you. "

She moved a foot or two to where the light was better. Very slowlya frown developed upon her forehead. The longer she looked, the lessassured she became. 

"There are things in your face I miss, " she muttered. 

Mr. Mangan was glad of an opportunity of asserting himself. 

"The fact is scarcely important, Mrs. Unthank, " he said angrily. "If youwill allow me to give you a word of advice, you will treat your masterwith the respect to which his position here entitles him. "

Once more the woman blazed up. 

"Respect! What respect have I for the murderer of my son? Respect! Well, if he stays here against my bidding, perhaps her ladyship will show himwhat respect means. "

She turned around and disappeared. Every one began bustling about theluggage and talking at once. Mr. Mangan took his patron's arm and ledhim across the hall. 

"My dear Sir Everard, " he said anxiously, "I am most distressed thatthis should have occurred. I thought that the woman would probablybe sullen, but I had no idea that she would dare to attempt such anoutrageous proceeding. "

"She is still, I presume, the only companion whom Lady Dominey willtolerate?" Dominey enquired with a sigh. 

"I fear so, " the lawyer admitted. "Nevertheless we must see DoctorHarrison in the morning. It must be understood distinctly that if she issuffered to remain, she adopts an entirely different attitude. I neverheard anything so preposterous in all my life. I shall pay her a visitmyself after dinner. --You will feel quite at home here in the library, Sir Everard, " Mr. Mangan went on, throwing open the door of a veryfine apartment on the seaward side of the house. "Grand view from thesewindows, especially since we've had a few of the trees cut down. Isee that Parkins has set out the sherry. Cocktails, I'm afraid, are aninstitution you will have to inaugurate down here. You'll be grateful tome when I tell you one thing, Sir Everard. We've been hard pressedmore than once, but we haven't sold a single bottle of wine out of thecellars. "

Dominey accepted the glass of sherry which the lawyer had poured outbut made no movement towards drinking it. He seemed during the last fewminutes to have been wrapped in a brown study. 

"Mangan, " he asked a little abruptly, "is it the popular belief downhere that I killed Roger Unthank?"

The lawyer set down the decanter and coughed. 

"A plain answer, " Dominey insisted. 

Mr. Mangan adapted himself to the situation. He was beginning tounderstand his client. 

"I am perfectly certain, Sir Everard, " he confessed, "that there isn'ta soul in these parts who isn't convinced of it. They believe that therewas a fight and that you had the best of it. "

"Forgive me, " Dominey continued, "if I seem to ask unnecessaryquestions. Remember that I spent the first portion of my exile in Africain a very determined effort to blot out the memory of everything thathad happened to me earlier in life. So that is the popular belief?"

"The popular belief seems to match fairly well with the facts, " Mr. Mangan declared, wielding the decanter again in view of his client'smore reasonable manner. "At the time of your unfortunate visit to theHall Miss Felbrigg was living practically alone at the Vicarage afterher uncle's sudden death there, with Mrs. Unthank as housekeeper. RogerUnthank's infatuation for her was patent to the whole neighbourhood anda source of great annoyance in Miss Felbrigg. I am convinced that at notime did Lady Dominey give the young man the slightest encouragement. "

"Has any one ever believed the contrary?" Dominey demanded. 

"Not a soul, " was the emphatic reply. "Nevertheless, when you came down, fell in love with Miss Felbrigg and carried her off, every one felt thatthere would be trouble. "

"Roger Unthank was a lunatic, " Dominey pronounced deliberately. "Hisbehaviour from the first was the behaviour of a madman. "

"The Eugene Aram type of village schoolmaster gradually drifting intopositive insanity, " Mangan acquiesced. "So far, every one is agreed. Themystery began when he came back from his holidays and heard the news. "

"The sequel was perfectly simple, " Dominey observed. "We met at thenorth end of the Black Wood one evening, and he attacked me like amadman. I suppose I had to some extent the best of it, but when I gotback to the Hall my arm was broken, I was covered with blood, and halfunconscious. By some cruel stroke of fortune, almost the first personI saw was Lady Dominey. The shock was too much for her--shefainted--and--"

"And has never been quite herself since, " the lawyer concluded. "Mosttragic!"

"The cruel part of it was, " Dominey went on, standing before the window, his hands clasped behind his back, "that my wife from that momentdeveloped a homicidal mania against me--I, who had fought in the mostabsolute self-defence. That was what drove me out of the country, Mangan--not the fear of being arrested for having caused the death ofRoger Unthank. I'd have stood my trial for that at any moment. It wasthe other thing that broke me up. "

"Quite so, " Mangan murmured sympathetically. "As a matter of fact, you were perfectly safe from arrest, as it happened. The body of RogerUnthank has never been found from that day to this. "

"If it had--"

"You must have been charged with either murder or manslaughter. "

Dominey abandoned his post at the window and raised his glass of sherryto his lips. The tragical side of these reminiscences seemed, so far ashe was concerned, to have passed. 

"I suppose, " he remarked, "it was the disappearance of the body whichhas given rise to all this talk as to his spirit still inhabiting theBlack Wood. "

"Without a doubt, " the lawyer acquiesced. "The place had a bad namealready, as you know. As it is, I don't suppose there's a villager herewould cross the park in that direction after dark. "

Dominey glanced at his watch and led the way from the room. 

"After dinner, " he promised, "I'll tell you a few West Africansuperstitions which will make our local one seem anemic. "

CHAPTER IX

"I certainly offer you my heartiest congratulations upon your cellars, Sir Everard, " his guest said, as he sipped his third glass of port thatevening. "This is the finest glass of seventy I've drunk for a longtime, and this new fellow I've sent you down--Parkins--tells me there'sany quantity of it. "

"It has had a pretty long rest, " Dominey observed. 

"I was looking through the cellar-book before dinner, " the lawyer wenton, "and I see that you still have forty-seven and forty-eight, and asmall quantity of two older vintages. Something ought to be done aboutthose. "

"We will try one of them to-morrow night, " Dominey suggested. "We mightspend half an hour or so in the cellars, if we have any time to spare. "

"And another half an hour, " Mr. Mangan said gravely, "I should like tospend in interviewing Mrs. Unthank. Apart from any other question, I donot for one moment believe that she is the proper person to be entrustedwith the care of Lady Dominey. I made up my mind to speak to you on thissubject, Sir Everard, as soon as we had arrived here. "

"Mrs. Unthank was old Mr. Felbrigg's housekeeper and my wife's nursewhen she was a child, " Dominey reminded his companion. "Whatever herfaults may be, I believe she is devoted to Lady Dominey. "

"She may be devoted to your wife, " the lawyer admitted, "but I amconvinced that she is your enemy. The situation doesn't seem to me to beconsistent. Mrs. Unthank is firmly convinced that, whether in fair fightor not, you killed her son. Lady Dominey believes that, too, and itwas the sight of you after the fight that sent her insane. I cannot butbelieve that it would be far better for Lady Dominey to have some onewith her unconnected with this unfortunate chapter of your past. "

"We will consult Doctor Harrison to-morrow, " Dominey said. "I am veryglad you came down with me, Mangan, " he went on, after a minute'shesitation. "I find it very difficult to get back into the atmosphereof those days. I even find it hard sometimes, " he added, with a curiouslittle glance across the table, "to believe that I am the same man. "

"Not so hard as I have done more than once, " Mr. Mangan confessed. 

"Tell me exactly in what respects you consider me changed?" Domineyinsisted. 

"You seem to have lost a certain pliability, or perhaps I ought tocall it looseness of disposition, " he admitted. "There are many thingsconnected with the past which I find it almost impossible to associatewith you. For a trifling instance, " he went on, with a slight smile, inclining his head towards his host's untasted glass. "You don't drinkport like any Dominey I ever knew. "

"I'm afraid that I never acquired the taste for port, " Dominey observed. 

The lawyer gazed at him with raised eyebrows. 

"Not acquired the taste for port, " he repeated blankly. 

"I should have said reacquired, " Dominey hastened to explain. "You see, in the bush we drank a simply frightful amount of spirits, and thatvitiates the taste for all wine. "

The lawyer glanced enviously at his host's fine bronzed complexion andclear eyes. 

"You haven't the appearance of ever having drunk anything, Sir Everard, "he observed frankly. "One finds it hard to believe the stories that weregoing about ten or fifteen years ago. "

"The Dominey constitution, I suppose!"

The new butler entered the room noiselessly and came to his master'schair. 

"I have served coffee in the library, sir, " he announced. "Mr. Middleton, the gamekeeper, has just called, and asks if he could havea word with you before he goes to bed to-night, sir. He seems in a verynervous and uneasy state. "

"He can come to the library at once, " Dominey directed; "that is, if youare ready for your coffee, Mangan. "

"Indeed I am, " the lawyer assented, rising. "A great treat, that wine. One thing the London restaurants can't give us. Port should never bedrunk away from the place where it was laid down. "

The two men made their way across the very fine hall, the walls of whichhad suffered a little through lack of heating, into the library, andseated themselves in easy-chairs before the blazing log fire. Parkinssilently served them with coffee and brandy. He had scarcely left theroom before there was a timid knock and Middleton made his somewhathesitating entrance. 

"Come in and close the door, " Dominey directed. "What is it, Middleton?Parkins says you wish to speak to me. "

The man came hesitatingly forward. He was obviously distressed anduneasy, and found speech difficult. His face glistened with the rainwhich had found its way, too, in long streaks down his velveteen coat. His white hair was wind-tossed and disarranged. 

"Bad night, " Dominey remarked. 

"It's to save its being a worse one that I'm here, Squire, " the old manreplied hoarsely. "I've come to ask you a favour and to beg you to grantit for your own sake. You'll not sleep in the oak room to-night?"

"And why not?" Dominey asked. 

"It's next her ladyship's. "

"Well?"

The old man was obviously perturbed, but his master, as though ofa purpose, refused to help him. He glanced at Mangan and mumbled tohimself. 

"Say exactly what you wish to, Middleton, " Dominey invited. "Mr. Manganand his father and grandfather have been solicitors to the estate for agreat many years. They know all our family history. "

"I can't get rightly into touch with you, Squire, and that's a fact, "Middleton went on despairingly. "The shape of you seems larger and yourvoice harder. I don't seem to be so near to you as I'd wished, to saywhat's in my heart. "

"I have had a rough time Middleton, " Dominey reminded him. "No wonder Ihave changed! Never mind, speak to me just as man to man. "

"It was I who first met you, Squire, " the old man went on, "whenyou tottered home that night across the park, with your arm hanginghelplessly by your side, and the blood streaming down your face andclothes, and the red light in your eyes--murderous fire, they called it. I heard her ladyship go into hysterics. I saw her laugh and sob like amaniac, and, God help us! that's what she's been ever since. "

The two men were silent. Middleton had raised his voice, speaking withfierce excitement. It was obvious that he had only paused for breath. Hehad more to say. 

"I was by your side, Squire, " he went on, "when her ladyship caught upthe knife and ran at you, and, as you well know, it was I, seizing herfrom behind, that saved a double tragedy that night, and it was I whowent for the doctor the next morning, when she'd stolen into your roomin the night and missed your throat by a bare inch. I heard her callto you, heard her threat. It was a madwoman's threat, Squire, but herladyship is a madwoman at this moment, and with a knife in her handyou'll never be safe in this house. "

"We must see, " Dominey said quietly, "that she is not allowed to getpossession of any weapon. "

"Aye! Make sure of that, " Middleton scoffed, "with Mother Unthank by herside! Her ladyship's mad because of the horror of that night, but MotherUnthank is mad with hate, and there isn't a week passes, " the old manwent on, his voice dropping lower and his eyes burning, "that RogerUnthank's spirit don't come and howl for your blood beneath theirwindow. If you stay here this night, Squire, come over and sleep in thelittle room they've got ready for you on the other side of the house. "

Mr. Mangan had lost his smooth, after-dinner appearance. His face wasrumpled, and his coffee was growing cold. This was a very differentthing from the vague letters and rumours which had reached him from timeto time and which he had put out of his mind with all the contempt ofthe materialist. 

"It is very good of you to warn me, Middleton, " Dominey said, "but I canlock my door, can I not?"

"Lock the door of the oak room!" was the scornful reply. "And what goodwould that do? You know well enough that the wall's double on threesides, and there are more secret entrances than even I know of. Theoak room's not for you this night, Squire. It's hoping to get you therethat's keeping them quiet. "

"Tell us what you mean, Middleton, " the lawyer asked, with ill-assumedindifference, "when you spoke of the howling of Roger Unthank's spirit?"

The old man turned patiently around. 

"Just that, sir, " he replied. "It's round the house most weeks. Exceptfor me odd nights, and Mrs. Unthank, there's been scarcely a servantwould sleep in the Hall for years. Some of the maids they do come upfrom the village, but back they go before nightfall, and until morningthere isn't a living soul would cross the path--no, not for a hundredpounds. "

"A howl, you call it?" Mr. Mangan observed. 

"That's mostly like a dog that's hurt itself, " Middleton explainedequably, "like a dog, that is, with a touch of human in its throat, aswe've all heard in our time, sir. You'll hear it yourself, sir, maybeto-night or to-morrow night. "

"You've heard it then, Middleton?" his master asked. 

"Why, surely, sir, " the old man replied in surprise. "Most weeks for thelast ten years. "

"Haven't you ever got up and gone out to see what it was?"

The old man shook his head. 

"But I knew right well what that was, sir, " he said, "and I'm not onefor looking on spirits. Spirits there are that walk this world, as wewell know, and the spirit of Roger Unthank walks from between the BlackWood and those windows, come every week of the year. But I'm not forlooking at him. There's evil comes of that. I turn over in my bed, and Istop my ears, but I've never yet raised a blind. "

"Tell me, Middleton, " Dominey asked, "is Lady Dominey terrified atthese--er--visitations?"

"That I can't rightly say, sir. Her ladyship's always sweet and gentle, with kind words on her lips for every one, but there's the terror therein her eyes that was lit that night when you staggered into the hall, Squire, and I've never seen it properly quenched yet, so to speak. Shecarries fear with her, but whether it's the fear of seeing you again, orthe fear of Roger Unthank's spirit, I could not tell. "

Dominey seemed suddenly to become possessed of a strange desire tothrust the whole subject away. He dismissed the old man kindly buta little abruptly, accompanying him to the corridor which led to theservants' quarters and talking all the time about the pheasants. When hereturned, he found that his guest had emptied his second glass of brandyand was surreptitiously mopping his forehead. 

"That, " the latter remarked, "is the class of old retainer who lives toolong. If I were a Dominey of the Middle Ages, I think a stone around hisneck and the deepest well would be the sensible way of dealing with him. He made me feel positively uncomfortable. "

"I noticed it, " Dominey remarked, with a faint smile. "I'm not going topretend that it was a pleasant conversation myself. "

"I've heard some ghost stories, " Mangan went on, "but a spook that comesand howls once a week for ten years takes some beating. "

Dominey poured himself out a glass of brandy with a steady hand. 

"You've been neglecting things here, Mangan, " he complained. "You oughtto have come down and exorcised that ghost. We shall have those smartmaidservants of yours off to-morrow, I suppose, unless you and I can geta little ghost-laying in first. "

Mr. Mangan began to feel more comfortable. The brandy and the warmth ofthe burning logs were creeping into his system. 

"By the by, Sir Everard, " he enquired, a little later on, "where are yougoing to sleep to-night?"

Dominey stretched himself out composedly. 

"There is obviously only one place for me, " he replied. "I can'tdisappoint any one. I shall sleep in the oak room. "

CHAPTER X

For the first few tangled moments of nightmare, slowly developing into alive horror, Dominey fancied himself back in Africa, with the hand of anenemy upon his throat. Then a rush of awakened memories--the silence ofthe great house, the mysterious rustling of the heavy hangings aroundthe black oak four-poster on which he lay, the faint pricking ofsomething deadly at his throat--these things rolled back the curtain ofunreality, brought him acute and painful consciousness of a situationalmost appalling. He opened his eyes, and although a brave and callousman he lay still, paralysed with the fear which forbids motion. The dimlight of a candle, recently lit, flashed upon the bodkin-like daggerheld at his throat. He gazed at the thin line of gleaming steel, fascinated. Already his skin had been broken, a few drops of bloodwere upon the collar of his pyjamas. The hand which held that deadly, assailing weapon--small, slim, very feminine, curving from somewherebehind the bed curtain--belonged to some unseen person. He tried toshrink farther back upon the pillow. The hand followed him, displayingglimpses now of a soft, white-sleeved arm. He lay quite still, themuscles of his right arm growing tenser as he prepared for a snatch atthose cruel fingers. Then a voice came, --a slow, feminine and ratherwonderful voice. 

"If you move, " it said, "you will die. Remain quite still. "

Dominey was fully conscious now, his brain at work, calculating hischances with all the cunning of the trained hunter who seeks to avoiddeath. Reluctantly he was compelled to realise that no movement of hiscould be quick enough to prevent the driving of that thin stiletto intohis throat, if his hidden assailant should keep her word. So he laystill. 

"Why do you want to kill me?" he asked, a little tensely. 

There was no reply, yet somehow he knew that he was being watched. Everso slightly those curtains around which the arm had come, were beingparted. Through the chink some one was looking at him. The thought camethat he might call out for help, and once more his unseen enemy read histhought. 

"You must be very quiet, " the voice said, --that voice which it wasdifficult for him to believe was not the voice of a child. "If you evenspeak above a whisper, it will be the end. I wish to look at you. "

A little wider the crack opened, and then he began to feel hope. Thehand which held the stiletto was shaking, he heard something whichsounded like quick breathing from behind the curtains--the breathing ofa woman astonished or terrified--and then, so suddenly that for severalseconds he could not move or take advantage of the circumstance, thehand with its cruel weapon was withdrawn around the curtain and a womanbegan to laugh, softly at first, and then with a little hysterical sobthrusting its way through that incongruous note of mirth. 

He lay upon the bed as though mesmerised, finding at his first effortthat his limbs refused their office, as might the limbs of one lyingunder the thrall of a nightmare. The laugh died away, there was a soundlike a scraping upon the wall, the candle was suddenly blown out. Thenhis nerve began to return and with it his control over his limbs. Hecrawled to the side of the bed remote from the curtains, stole to thelittle table on which he had left his revolver and an electric torch, snatched at them, and, with the former in his right hand, flashed alittle orb of light into the shadows of the great apartment. Once moresomething like terror seized him. The figure which had been standingby the side of his bed had vanished. There was no hiding place in view. Every inch of the room was lit up by the powerful torch he carried, and, save for himself, the room was empty. The first moment of realisationwas chill and unnerving. Then the slight smarting of the wound athis throat became convincing proof to him that there was nothingsupernatural about this visit. He lit up half-a-dozen of the candlesdistributed about the place and laid down his torch. He was ashamed tofind that his forehead was dripping with perspiration. 

"One of the secret passages, of course, " he muttered to himself, stooping for a moment to examine the locked, folding doors whichseparated his room from the adjoining one. "Perhaps, when one reflects, I have run unnecessary risks. "

Dominey was standing at the window, looking out at the tumbled greywaters of the North Sea, when Parkins brought him hot water and tea inthe morning. He thrust his feet into slippers and held out his arms fora dressing-gown. 

"Find out where the nearest bathroom is, Parkins, " he ordered, "andprepare it. I have quite forgotten my way about here. "

"Very good, sir. "

The man was motionless for a moment, staring at the blood onhis master's pyjamas. Dominey glanced down at it and turned thedressing-gown up to his throat. 

"I had a slight accident this morning, " he remarked carelessly. "Anyghost alarms last light?"

"None that I heard of, sir, " the man replied. "I am afraid we shouldhave difficulty in keeping the young women from London, if they heardwhat I heard the night of my arrival. "

"Very terrible, was it?" Dominey asked with a smile. 

Parkins' expression remained immovable. There was in his tone, however, a mute protest against his master's levity. 

"The cries were the most terrible I have ever heard, sir, " he said. "Iam not a nervous person, but I found them most disturbing. "

"Human or animal?"

"A mixture of both, I should say, sir. "

"You should camp out for the night on the skirts of an African forest, "Dominey remarked. "There you get a whole orchestra of wild animals, every one of them trying to freeze your blood up. "

"I was out in South Africa during the Boer War, sir, " Parkins replied, "and I went big game hunting with my master afterwards. I do not thinkthat any animal was ever born in Africa with so terrifying a cry as weheard the night before last. "

"We must look into the matter, " Dominey muttered. 

"I have already prepared a bath, sir, at the end of the corridor, " theman announced. "If you will allow me, I will show you the way. "

Dominey, when he descended about an hour later, found his guest awaitinghim in the smaller dining-room, which looked out eastwards towardsthe sea, a lofty apartment with great windows and with an air of fadedsplendour which came from the ill-cared-for tapestries, hanging inplaces from the wall. Mr. Mangan had, contrary to his expectations, slept well and was in excellent spirits. The row of silver dishes uponthe sideboard inspired him with an added cheerfulness. 

"So there were no ghosts walking last night?" he remarked, as he tookhis place at the table. "Wonderful thing this absolute quiet is afterLondon. Give you my word, I never heard a sound from the moment my headtouched the pillow until I woke a short while ago. "

Dominey returned from the sideboard, carrying also a well-filled plate. 

"I had a pretty useful night's rest myself, " he observed. 

Mangan raised his eyeglass and gazed at his host's throat. 

"Cut yourself?" he queried. 

"Razor slipped, " Dominey told him. "You get out of the use of thosethings in Africa. "

"You've managed to give yourself a nasty gash, " Mr. Mangan observedcuriously. 

"Parkins is going to send up for a new set of safety razors for me, "Dominey announced. "About our plans for the day, --I've ordered the carfor two-thirty this afternoon, if that suits you. We can look around theplace quietly this morning. Mr. Johnson is sleeping over at a farmhousenear here. We shall pick him up en route. And I have told Lees, thebailiff, to come with us too. "

Mr. Mangan nodded his approval. 

"Upon my word, " he confessed, "it will be a joy to me to go and see someof these fellows without having to put 'em off about repairs and thatsort of thing. Johnson has had the worst of it, poor chap, but thereare one or two of them took it into their heads to come up to London andworry me at the office. "

"I intend that there shall be no more dissatisfaction amongst mytenants. "

Mr. Mangan set off for another prowl towards the sideboard. 

"Satisfied tenants you never will get in Norfolk, " he declared. "Imust admit, though, that some of them have had cause to grumble lately. There's a fellow round by Wells who farms nearly eight hundred acres--"

He broke off in his speech. There was a knock at the door, not anordinary knock at all, but a measured, deliberate tapping, three timesrepeated. 

"Come in, " Dominey called out. 

Mrs. Unthank entered, severer, more unattractive than ever in the hardmorning light. She came to the end of the table, facing the place whereDominey was seated. 

"Good morning, Mrs. Unthank, " he said. 

She ignored the greeting. 

"I am the bearer of a message, " she announced. 

"Pray deliver it, " Dominey replied. 

"Her ladyship would be glad for you to visit her in her apartment atonce. "

Dominey leaned back in his chair. His eyes were fixed upon the face ofthe woman whose antagonism to himself was so apparent. She stood in thepath of a long gleam of morning sunlight. The wrinkles in her face, herhard mouth, her cold, steely eyes were all clearly revealed. 

"I am not at all sure, " he said, with a purpose in the words, "thatany further meeting between Lady Dominey and myself is at presentdesirable. "

If he had thought to disturb this messenger by his suggestion, he wasdisappointed. 

"Her ladyship desires me to assure you, " she added, with a note ofcontempt in her tone, "that you need be under no apprehension. "

Dominey admitted defeat and poured himself out some more coffee. Neitherof the two noticed that his fingers were trembling. 

"Her ladyship is very considerate, " he said. "Kindly say that I shallfollow you in a few minutes. "

Dominey, following within a very few minutes of his summons, was usheredinto an apartment large and sombrely elegant, an apartment of fadedwhite and gold walls, of chandeliers glittering with lustres, of LouiseQuinze furniture, shabby but priceless. To his surprise, although hescarcely noticed it at the time, Mrs. Unthank promptly disappeared. Hewas from the first left alone with the woman whom he had come to visit. 

She was sitting up on her couch and watching his approach. A woman?Surely only a child, with pale cheeks, large, anxious eyes, and massesof brown hair brushed back from her forehead. After all, was he indeeda strong man, vowed to great things? There was a queer feeling inhis throat, almost a mist before his eyes. She seemed so fragile, soutterly, sweetly pathetic. And all the time there was the strange light, or was it want of light, in those haunting eyes. His speech of greetingwas never spoken. 

"So you have come to see me, Everard, " she said, in a broken tone. "Youare very brave. "

He possessed himself of her hand, the hand which a few hours ago hadheld a dagger to his throat, and kissed the waxenlike fingers. It fellto her side like a lifeless thing. Then she raised it and began rubbingsoftly at the place where his lips had fallen. 

"I have come to see you at your bidding, " he replied, "and for mypleasure. "

"Pleasure!" she murmured, with a ghastly little smile. "You have learntto control your words, Everard. You have slept here and you live. I havebroken my word. I wonder why?"

"Because, " he pleaded, "I have not deserved that you should seek mylife. "

"That sounds strangely, " she reflected. "Doesn't it say somewhere in theBible--'A life for a life'? You killed Roger Unthank. "

"I have killed other men since in self-defence, " Dominey told her. "Sometimes it comes to a man that he must slay or be slain. It was RogerUnthank--"

"I shall not talk about him any longer, " she decided quite calmly. "Thenight before last, his spirit was calling to me below my window. Hewants me to go down into Hell and live with him. The very thought ishorrible. "

"Come, " Dominey said, "we shall speak of other things. You must tell mewhat presents I can buy you. I have come back from Africa rich. "

"Presents?"

For a single wonderful moment, hers was the face of a child who had beenoffered toys. Her smile of anticipation was delightful, her eyes hadlost that strange vacancy. Then, before he could say another word, itall came back again. 

"Listen to me, " she said. "This is important. I have sent for youbecause I do not understand why, quite suddenly last night, after I hadmade up my mind, I lost the desire to kill you. It is gone now. I amnot sure about myself any longer. Draw your chair nearer to mine. Or no, come to my side, here at the other end of the sofa. "

She moved her skirts to make room for him. When he sat down, he felt astrange trembling through all his limbs. 

"Perhaps, " she went on, "I shall break my oath. Indeed, I have alreadybroken it. Let me look at you, my husband. It is a strange thing to ownafter all these years--a husband. "

Dominey felt as though he were breathing an atmosphere of turgid andpoisoned sweetness. There was a flavour of unreality about the wholesituation, --the room, this child woman, her beauty, her deliberate, halting speech and the strange things she said. 

"You find me changed?" he asked. 

"You are very wonderfully changed. You look stronger, you are perhapsbetter-looking, yet there is something gone from your face which Ithought one never lost. "

"You, " he said cautiously, "are more beautiful than ever, Rosamund. "

She laughed a little drearily. 

"Of what use has my beauty been to me, Everard, since you came to mylittle cottage and loved me and made me love you, and took me away fromDour Roger? Do you remember the school chidden used to call him DourRoger?--But that does not matter. Do you know, Everard, that since youleft me my feet have not passed outside these gardens?"

"That can be altered when you wish, " he said quickly. "You can visitwhere you will. You can have a motor-car, even a house in town. I shallbring some wonderful doctors here, and they will make you quite strongagain. "

Her large eyes were lifted almost piteously to his. 

"But how can I leave here?" she asked plaintively. "Every week, sometimes oftener, he calls to me. If I went away, his spirit wouldbreak loose and follow me. I must be here to wave my hand; then he goesaway. "

Dominey was conscious once more of that strange and most unexpected fitof emotion. He was unrecognisable even to himself. Never before in hislife had his heart beaten as it was beating now. His eyes, too, werehot. He had travelled around the word in search of new things, onlyto find them in this strange, faded chamber, side by side with thissuffering woman. Nevertheless, he said quietly:

"We must send you some place where the people are kinder and where lifeis pleasanter. Perhaps you love music and to see beautiful pictures. Ithink that we must try and keep you from thinking. "

She sighed in a perplexed fashion. 

"I wish that I could get it out of my blood that I want to kill you. Then you could take me right away. Other married people have livedtogether and hated each other. Why shouldn't we? We may forget even tohate. "

Dominey staggered to his feet, walked to a window, threw it open andleaned out for a moment. Then he closed it and came back. This newelement in the situation had been a shock to him. All the time she waswatching him composedly. 

"Well?" she asked, with a strange little smile. "What do you say? Wouldyou like to hold as a wife's the hand which frightened you so lastnight?"

She held it out to him, soft and warm. Her fingers even returned thepressure of his. She looked at him pleasantly, and once more he feltlike a man who has wandered into a strange country and has lost hisbearings. 

"I want you so much to be happy, " he said hoarsely, "but you are notstrong yet, Rosamund. We cannot decide anything in a hurry. "

"How surprised you are to find that I am willing to be nice to you!" shemurmured. "But why not? You cannot know why I have so suddenly changedmy mind about you--and I have changed it. I have seen the truth thesefew minutes. There is a reason, Everard, why I should not kill you. "

"What is it?" he demanded. 

She shook her head with all the joy of a child who keeps a secret. 

"You are clever, " she said. "I will leave you to find it out. I amexcited now, and I want you to go away for a little time. Please sendMrs. Unthank to me. "

The prospect of release was a strange relief, mingled still morestrangely with regret. He lingered over her hand. 

"If you walk in your sleep to-night, then, " he begged, "you will leaveyour dagger behind?"

"I have told you, " she answered, as though surprised, "that I haveabandoned my intention. I shall not kill you. Even though I may walkin my sleep--and sometimes the nights are so long--it will not be yourdeath I seek. "

CHAPTER XI

Dominey left the room like a man in a dream, descended the stairs to hisown part of the house, caught up a hat and stick and strode out into thesea mist which was fast enveloping the gardens. There was all the chillof the North Pole in that ice-cold cloud of vapour, but nevertheless hisforehead remained hot, his pulses burning. He passed out of the posterngate which led from the walled garden on to a broad marsh, with dikesrunning here and there, and lapping tongues of sea water creeping inwith the tide. He made his way seaward with uncertain steps until hereached a rough and stony road; here he hesitated for a moment, lookedabout him, and then turned back at right angles. Soon he came to alittle village, a village of ancient cottages, with seasoned, red-bricktiles, trim little patches of garden, a church embowered with tallelm trees, a triangular green at the cross-roads. On one side a low, thatched building, --the Dominey Arms; on another, an ancient, squarestone house, on which was a brass plate. He went over and read the name, rang the bell, and asked the trim maidservant who answered it, for thedoctor. Presently, a man of youthful middle-age presented himself in thesurgery and bowed. Dominey was for a moment at a loss. 

"I came to see Doctor Harrison, " he ventured. 

"Doctor Harrison retired from practice some years ago, " was thecourteous reply. "I am his nephew. My name is Stillwell. "

"I understood that Doctor Harrison was still in the neighbourhood, "Dominey said. "My name is Dominey--Sir Everard Dominey. "

"I guessed as much, " the other replied. "My uncle lives with me here, and to tell you the truth he was hoping that you would come and see him. He retains one patient only, " Doctor Stillwell added, in a graver tone. "You can imagine who that would be. "

His caller bowed. "Lady Dominey, I presume. "

The young doctor opened the door and motioned to his guest to precedehim. 

"My uncle has his own little apartment on the other side of the house, "he said. "You must let me take you to him. "

They moved across the pleasant white stone hall into a small apartmentwith French windows leading out to a flagged terrace and tennis lawn. Anelderly man, broad-shouldered, with weather-beaten face, grey hair, andof somewhat serious aspect, looked around from the window before whichhe was standing examining a case of fishing flies. 

"Uncle, I have brought an old friend in to see you, " his nephewannounced. 

The doctor glanced expectantly at Dominey, half moved forward as thoughto greet him, then checked himself and shook his head doubtfully. 

"You certainly remind me very much of an old friend, sir, " he said, "butI can see now that you are not he. I do not believe that I have everseen you before in my life. "

There was a moment's somewhat tense silence. Then Dominey advanced alittle stiffly and held out his hand. 

"Come, Doctor, " he said. "I can scarcely have changed as much as allthat. Even these years of strenuous life--"

"You mean to tell me that I am speaking to Everard Dominey?" the doctorinterposed. 

"Without a doubt!"

The doctor shook hands coolly. His was certainly not the enthusiasticwelcome of an old family attendant to the representative of a greatfamily. 

"I should certainly never have recognised you, " he confessed. 

"My presence here is nevertheless indisputable, " Dominey continued. "Still attracted by your old pastime, I see, Doctor?"

"I have only taken up fly fishing, " the other replied drily, "since Igave up shooting. "

There was another somewhat awkward pause, which the younger manendeavoured to bridge over. 

"Fishing, shooting, golf, " he said; "I really don't know what we poormedical practitioners would do in the country without sport. "

"I shall remind you of that later, " Dominey observed. "I am told thatthe shooting is one of the only glories that has not passed away fromDominey. "

"I shall look forward to the reminder, " was the prompt response. 

His uncle, who had been bending once more over the case of flies, turnedabruptly around. 

"Arthur, " he said, addressing his nephew, "you had better start on yourround. I dare say Sir Everard would like to speak to me privately. "

"I wish to speak to you certainly, " Dominey admitted, "but onlyprofessionally. There is no necessity--"

"I am late already, if you will excuse me, " Doctor Stillwellinterrupted. "I will be getting on. You must excuse my uncle, SirEverard, " he added in a lower tone, drawing him a little towards thedoor, "if his manners are a little gruff. He is devoted to Lady Dominey, and I sometimes think that he broods over her case too much. "

Dominey nodded and turned back into the room to find the doctor, hishands in his old-fashioned breeches pockets, eyeing him steadfastly. 

"I find it very hard to believe, " he said a little curtly, "that you arereally Everard Dominey. "

"I am afraid you will have to accept me as a fact, nevertheless. "

"Your present appearance, " the old man continued, eyeing himappraisingly, "does not in any way bear out the description I had of yousome years ago. I was told that you had become a broken-down drunkard. "

"The world is full of liars, " Dominey said equably. "You appear to havemet with one, at least. "

"You have not even, " the doctor persisted, "the appearance of a man whohas been used to excesses of any sort. "

"Good old stock, ours, " his visitor observed carelessly. "Plenty oftwo-bottle men behind my generation. "

"You have also gained courage since the days when you fled from England. You slept at the Hall last night?"

"Where else? I also, if you want to know, occupied my ownbedchamber--with results, " Dominey added, throwing his head a littleback, to display the scar on his throat, "altogether insignificant. "

"That's just your luck, " the doctor declared. "You've no right to havegone there without seeing me; no right, after all that has passed, tohave even approached your wife. "

"You seem rather a martinet as regards my domestic affairs, " Domineyobserved. 

"That's because I know your history, " was the blunt reply. 

Uninvited Dominey seated himself in an easy-chair. 

"You were never my friend, Doctor, " he said. "Let me suggest that weconduct this conversation on a purely professional basis. "

"I was never your friend, " came the retort, "because I have known youalways as a selfish brute; because you were married to the sweetestwoman on God's earth, gave up none of your bad habits, frightened herinto insanity by reeling home with another man's blood on your hands, and then stayed away for over ten years instead of making an effort torepair the mischief you had done. "

"This, " observed Dominey, "is history, dished up in a somewhat partialfashion. I repeat my suggestion that we confine our conversation to theprofessional. "

"This is my house, " the other rejoined, "and you came to see me. I shallsay exactly what I like to you, and if you don't like it you can getout. If it weren't for Lady Dominey's sake, you shouldn't have passedthis threshold. "

"Then for her sake, " Dominey suggested in a softer tone, "can't youforget how thoroughly you disapprove of me? I am here now with onlyone object: I want you to point out to me any way in which we can worktogether for the improvement of my wife's health. "

"There can be no question of a partnership between us. "

"You refuse to help?"

"My help isn't worth a snap of the fingers. I have done all I can forher physically. She is a perfectly sound woman. The rest depends uponyou, and you alone, and I am not very hopeful about it. "

"Upon me?" Dominey repeated, a little taken aback. 

"Fidelity, " the doctor grunted, "is second nature with all good women. Lady Dominey is a good woman, and she is no exception to the rule. Herbrain is starved because her heart is aching for love. If she couldbelieve in your repentance and reform, if any atonement for the pastwere possible and were generously offered, I cannot tell what the resultmight be. They tell me that you are a rich man now, although heavenknows, when one considers what a lazy, selfish fellow you were, thatsounds like a miracle. You could have the great specialists down. Theycouldn't help, but it might salve your conscience to pay them a fewhundred guineas. "

"Would you meet them?" Dominey asked anxiously. "Tell me whom to sendfor?"

"Pooh! Those days are finished with me, " was the curt reply. "I wouldmeet none of them. I am a doctor no longer. I have become a villager. Igo to see Lady Dominey as an old friend. "

"Give me your advice, " Dominey begged. "Is it of any use sending forspecialists?"

"Just for the present, none at all. "

"And what about that horrible woman, Mrs. Unthank?"

"Part of your task, if you are really going to take it up. She standsbetween your wife and the sun. "

"Then why have you suffered her to remain there all those years?"Dominey demanded. 

"For one thing, because there has been no one to replace her, " thedoctor replied, "and for another, because Lady Dominey, believing thatyou slew her son, has some fantastic idea of giving her a home andshelter as a kind of expiation. "

"You think there is no affection between the two?" Dominey asked. 

"Not a scrap, " was the blunt reply, "except that Lady Dominey is of sosweet and gentle a nature--"

The doctor paused abruptly. His visitor's fingers had strayed across histhroat. 

"That's a different matter, " the former continued fiercely. "That's justwhere the weak spot in her brain remains. If you ask me, I believe it'spandered to by Mrs. Unthank. Come to think of it, " he went on, "theDomineys were never cowards. If you've got your courage back, send Mrs. Unthank away, sleep with your doors wide open. If a single night passeswithout Lady Dominey coming to your room with a knife in her hand, shewill be cured in time of that mania at any rate. Dare you do that?"

Dominey's hesitation was palpable, --also his agitation. The doctorgrinned contemptuously. 

"Still afraid!" he scoffed. 

"Not in the way you imagine, " his visitor replied. "My wife has alreadypromised to make no further attempt upon my life. "

"Well, you can cure her if you want to, " the doctor declared, "and ifyou do, you will have the sweetest companion for life any man couldhave. But you'll have to give up the idea of town houses and racing andyachting, and grouse moors in Scotland, and all those sort of things Isuppose you've been looking forward to. You'll have for some time, atany rate, to give every moment of your time to your wife. "

Dominey moved uneasily in his chair. 

"For the next few months, " he said, "that would be impossible. "

"Impossible!"

The doctor repeated the word, seemed to roll it round in his mouth witha sort of wondering scorn. 

"I am not quite the idler I used to be, " Dominey explained, frowning. "Nowadays, you cannot make money without assuming responsibilities. I amclearing off the whole of the mortgages upon the Dominey estates withinthe next few months. "

"How you spend your time is your affair, not mine, " the doctor muttered. "All I say about the matter is that your wife's cure, if ever it comesto pass, is in your hands. And now--come over to me here, in the lightof this window. I want to look at you. "

Dominey obeyed with a little shrug of the shoulders. There was nosunshine, but the white north light was in its way searching. It showedthe sprinkling of grey in his ruddy-brown hair, the suspicion of it inhis closely trimmed moustache, but it could find no weak spot in hissteady eyes, in the tan of his hard, manly complexion, or even in theset of his somewhat arrogant lips. The old doctor took up his box offlies again and jerked his head towards the door. 

"You are a miracle, " he said, "and I hate miracles. I'll come and seeLady Dominey in a day or so. "

CHAPTER XII

Dominey spent a curiously placid, and, to those with whom he was broughtinto contact, an entirely satisfactory afternoon. With Mr. Mangan byhis side, murmuring amiable platitudes, and Mr. Johnson, his agent, opposite, revelling in the unusual situation of a satisfied landlord anddelighted tenants, he made practically the entire round of the Domineyestates. They reached home late, but Dominey, although he seemed tobe living in another world, was not neglectful of the claims ofhospitality. Probably for the first time in their lives, Mr. Johnsonand Lees, the bailiff, watched the opening of a magnum of champagne. Mr. Johnson cleared his throat as he raised his glass. 

"It isn't only on my own account, Sir Everard, " he said, "that I drinkyour hearty good health. I have your tenants too in my mind. They'vehad a rough time, some of them, and they've stood it like white men. So here's from them and me to you, sir, and may we see plenty of you inthese parts. "

Mr. Lees associated himself with these sentiments, and the glasses werespeedily emptied and filled again. 

"I suppose you know, Sir Everard, " the agent observed, "that what you'vepromised to do to-day will cost a matter of ten to fifteen thousandpounds. "

Dominey nodded. 

"Before I go to bed to-night, " he said, "I shall send a cheque fortwenty thousand pounds to the estate account at your bank at Wells. Themoney is there waiting, put aside for just that one purpose and--well, you may just as well have it. "

Agent and bailiff leaned back in the tonneau of their motor-car, half anhour later, with immense cigars in their mouths and a pleasant, ripplingwarmth in their veins. They had the sense of having drifted intofairyland. Their philosophy, however, met the situation. 

"It's a fair miracle, " Mr. Lees declared. 

"A modern romance, " Mr. Johnson, who read novels, murmured. "Hello, here's a visitor for the Hall, " he added, as a car swept by them. 

"Comfortable-looking gent, too, " Mr. Lees remarked. 

The "comfortable-looking gent" was Otto Seaman, who presented himself atthe Hall with a small dressing-bag and a great many apologies. 

"Found myself in Norwich, Sir Everard, " he explained. "I have donebusiness there all my life, and one of my customers needed lookingafter. I finished early, and when I found that I was only thirty milesoff you, I couldn't resist having a run across. If it is in any wayinconvenient to put me up for the night, say so--"

"My dear fellow!" Dominey interrupted. "There are a score of roomsready. All that we need is to light a fire, and an old-fashionedbed-warmer will do the rest. You remember Mr. Mangan?"

The two men shook hands, and Seaman accepted a little refreshment afterhis drive. He lingered behind for a moment after the dressing bell hadrung. 

"What time is that fellow going?" he asked. 

"Nine o'clock to-morrow morning, " Dominey replied. 

"Not a word until then, " Seaman whispered back. "I must not seem tobe hanging after you too much--I really did not want to come--but thematter is urgent. "

"We can send Mangan to bed early, " Dominey suggested. 

"I am the early bird myself, " was the weary reply. "I was up all lastnight. To-morrow morning will do. "

Dinner that night was a pleasant and social meal. Mr. Mangan especiallywas uplifted. Everything to do with the Domineys for the last fifteenyears had reeked of poverty. He had really had a hard struggle tomake both ends meet. There had been disagreeable interviews with angrytenants, formal interviews with dissatisfied mortgagees, and remarkablylittle profit at the end of the year to set against these disagreeableepisodes. The new situation was almost beatific. The concluding touch, perhaps, was in Parkins' congratulatory whisper as he set a couple ofdecanters upon the table. 

"I have found a bin of Cockburn's _fifty-one_, sir, " he announced, including the lawyer in his confidential whisper. "I thought youmight like to try a couple of bottles, as Mr. Mangan seems rather aconnoisseur, sir. The corks appear to be in excellent condition. "

"After this, " Mr. Mangan sighed, "it will be hard to get back to theaustere life of a Pall Mall club!"

Seaman, very early in the evening, pleaded an extraordinary sleepinessand retired, leaving his host and Mangan alone over the port. Dominey, although an attentive host, seemed a little abstracted. Even Mr. Mangan, who was not an observant man, was conscious that a certain hardness, almost arrogance of speech and manner, seemed temporarily to have lefthis patron. 

"I can't tell you, Sir Everard, " he said, as he sipped his firstglass of wine, "what a pleasure it is to me to see, as it were, thisrecrudescence of an old family. If I might be allowed to say so, there'sonly one thing necessary to round the whole business off, as it were. "

"And that?" Dominey asked unthinkingly. 

"The return of Lady Dominey to health. I was one of the few, you mayremember, privileged to make her acquaintance at the time of yourmarriage. "

"I paid a visit this morning, " Dominey said, "to the doctor who has beenin attendance upon her since her marriage. He agrees with me that thereis no reason why Lady Dominey should not, in course of time, be restoredto perfect health. "

"I take the liberty of finishing my glass to that hope, Sir Everard, "the lawyer murmured. 

Both glasses were set down empty, only the stem of Dominey's was snappedin two. Mr. Mangan expressed his polite regrets. 

"This old glass, " he murmured, looking at his own admiringly, "becomesvery fragile. "

Dominey did not answer. His brain had served him a strange trick. Inthe shadows of the room he had fancied that he could see StephanieEiderstrom holding out her arms, calling to him to fulfill the pledgesof long ago, and behind her--

"Have you ever been in love, Mangan?" Dominey asked his companion. 

"I, sir? Well, I'm not sure, " the man of the world replied, a littlestartled by the abruptness of the question. "It's an old-fashioned wayof looking at things now, isn't it?"

Dominey relapsed into thoughtfulness. 

"I suppose so, " he admitted. 

That night a storm rolled up from somewhere across that grey waste ofwaters, a storm heralded by a wind which came booming over the marshes, shaking the latticed windows of Dominey Place, shrieking and wailingamongst its chimneys and around its many corners. Black clouds leanedover the land, and drenching streams of rain dashed against theloose-framed sashes of the windows. Dominey lit the tall candles inhis bedroom, fastened a dressing-gown around him, threw himself into aneasy-chair, and, fixing an electric reading lamp by his side, tried toread. Very soon the book slipped from his fingers. He became suddenlytense and watchful. His eyes counted one by one the panels in the wallby the left-hand side of the bed. The familiar click was twice repeated. For a moment a dark space appeared. Then a woman, stooping low, glidedinto the room. She came slowly towards him, drawn like a moth towardsthat semicircle of candle. Her hair hung down her back like a girl's, and the white dressing-gown which floated diaphanously about her wasunexpectedly reminiscent of Bond Street. 

"You are not afraid?" she asked anxiously. "See, I have nothing in myhands. I almost think that the desire has gone. You remember the littlestiletto I had last night? To-day I threw it into the well. Mrs. Unthankwas very angry with me. "

"I am not afraid, " he assured her, "but--"

"Ah, but you will not scold me?" she begged. "It is the storm whichterrifies me. "

He drew a low chair for her into the little circle of light and arrangedsome cushions. As she sank into it, she suddenly looked up at him andsmiled, a smile of rare and wonderful beauty. Dominey felt for a momentsomething like the stab of a knife at his heart. 

"Sit here and rest, " he invited. "There is nothing to fear. "

"In my heart I know that, " she answered simply. "These storms are partof our lives. They come with birth, and they shake the world when deathseizes us. One should not be afraid, but I have been so ill, Everard. Shall I call you Everard still?"

"Why not?" he asked. 

"Because you are not like Everard to me any more, " she told him, "because something has gone from you, and something has come to you. Youare not the same man. What is it? Had you troubles in Africa? Did youlearn what life was like out there?"

He sat looking at her for a moment, leaning back in his chair, whichhe had pushed a few feet into the shadows. Her hair was glossy andsplendid, and against it her skin seemed whiter and more delicate thanever. Her eyes were lustrous but plaintive, and with something of thechild's fear of harm in them. She looked very young and very fragile tohave been swayed through the years by an evil passion. 

"I learnt many things there, Rosamund, " he told her quietly. "I learnta little of the difference between right doing and wrongdoing. I learnt, too, that all the passions of life burn themselves out, save one alone. "

She twisted the girdle of her dressing-gown in her fingers for amoment. His last speech seemed to have been outside the orbit of hercomprehension or interest. 

"You need not be afraid of me any more, Everard, " she said, a littlepathetically. 

"I have no fear of you, " he answered. 

"Then why don't you bring your chair forward and come and sit a littlenearer to me?" she asked, raising her eyes. "Do you hear the wind, howit shrieks at us? Oh, I am afraid!"

He moved forward to her side, and took her hand gently in his. Herfingers responded at once to his pressure. When he spoke, he scarcelyrecognised his own voice. It seemed to him thick and choked. 

"The wind shall not hurt you, or anything else, " he promised. "I havecome back to take care of you. "

She sighed, smiled like a tired child, and her eyes closed as her headfell farther back amongst the cushions. 

"Stay just like that, please, " she begged. "Something quite new iscoming to me. I am resting. It is the sweetest rest I ever felt. Don'tmove, Everard. Let my fingers stay in yours--so. "

The candles burned down in their sockets, the wind rose to greaterfuries, and died away only as the dawn broke through the storm clouds. A pale light stole into the room. Still the woman slept, and still herfingers seemed to keep their clutch upon his hand. Her breathing was allthe time soft and regular. Her silky black eyelashes lay motionless uponher pale cheeks. Her mouth--a very perfectly shaped mouth--rested inquiet lines. Somehow he realised that about this slumber there was a newthing. With hot eyes and aching limbs he sat through the night. Dreamafter dream rose up and passed away before that little background oftapestried wall. When she opened her eyes and looked at him, the samesmile parted her lips as the smile which had come there when she hadpassed away to sleep. 

"I am so rested, " she murmured. "I feel so well. I have had dreams, beautiful dreams. "

The fire had burned out, and the room was chilly. 

"You must go back to your own room now, " he said. 

Very slowly her fingers relaxed. She held out her arms. 

"Carry me, " she begged. "I am only half awake. I want to sleep again. "

He lifted her up. Her fingers closed around his neck, her head fell backwith a little sigh of content. He tried the folding doors, and, findingsome difficulty in opening them carried her out into the corridor, intoher own room, and laid her upon the untouched bed. 

"You are quite comfortable?" he asked. 

"Quite, " she murmured drowsily. "Kiss me, Everard. "

Her hands drew his face down. His lips rested upon her forehead. Then hedrew the bedclothes over her and fled. 

CHAPTER XIII

There was a cloud on Seaman's good-humoured face as, muffled up intheir overcoats, he and his host walked up and down the terrace thenext morning, after the departure of Mr. Mangan. He disclosed his mind alittle abruptly. 

"In a few minutes, " he said, "I shall come to the great purpose of myvisit. I have great and wonderful news for you. But it will keep. "

"The time for action has arrived?" Dominey asked curiously. "I hope youwill remember that as yet I am scarcely established here. "

"It is with regard to your establishment here, " Seaman explained drily, "that I desire to say a word. We have seen much of one another since wemet in Cape Town. The passion and purpose of my life you have been ableto judge. Of those interludes which are necessary to a human being, unless his system is to fall to pieces as dry dust, you have also seensomething. I trust you will not misunderstand me when I say that apartfrom the necessities of my work, I am a man of sentiment. "

"I am prepared to admit it, " Dominey murmured a little idly. 

"You have undertaken a great enterprise. It was, without a doubt, amiraculous piece of fortune which brought the Englishman, Dominey, to your camp just at the moment when you received your orders fromheadquarters. Your self-conceived plan has met with every encouragementfrom us. You will be placed in a unique position to achieve your finalpurpose. Now mark my words and do not misunderstand me. The very keynoteof our progress is ruthlessness. To take even a single step forwardtowards the achievement of that purpose is worth the sacrifice of allthe scruples and delicacies conceivable. But when a certain courseof action is without profit to our purpose, I see ugliness in it. Itdistresses me. "

"What the devil do you mean?" Dominey demanded. 

"I sleep with one ear open, " Seaman replied. 

"Well?"

"I saw you leave your room early this morning, " Seaman continued, "carrying Lady Dominey in your arms. "

There were little streaks of pallor underneath the tan in Dominey'sface. His eyes were like glittering metal. It was only when he hadbreathed once or twice quickly that he could command his voice. 

"What concern is this of yours?" he demanded. 

Seaman gripped his companion's arm. 

"Look here, " he said, "we are too closely allied for bluff. I am here tohelp you fill the shoes of another man, so far as regards his estates, his position, and character, which, by the by, you are rehabilitating. Iwill go further. I will admit that it is not my concern to interfere inany ordinary amour you might undertake, but--I shall tell you this, myfriend, to your face--that to deceive a lady of weak intellect, howeverbeautiful, to make use of your position as her supposed husband, is not, save in the vital interests of his country, the action of a Prussiannobleman. "

Dominey's passion seemed to have burned itself out without expression. He showed not the slightest resentment at his companion's words. 

"Have no fear, Seaman, " he enjoined him. "The situation is delicate, butI can deal with it as a man of honour. "

"You relieve me, " Seaman confessed. "You must admit that the spectacleof last night was calculated to inspire me with uneasiness. "

"I respect you for your plain words, " Dominey declared. "The fact is, that Lady Dominey was frightened of the storm last night and foundher way into my room. You may be sure that I treated her with all therespect and sympathy which our positions demanded. "

"Lady Dominey, " Seaman remarked meditatively, "seems to be curiouslyfalsifying certain predictions. "

"In what way?"

"The common impression in the neighbourhood here is that she is a maniacchiefly upon one subject--her detestation of you. She has been known totake an oath that you should die if you slept in this house again. Younaturally, being a brave man, ignored all this, yet in the morning afteryour first night here there was blood upon your night clothes. "

Dominey's eyebrows were slowly raised. 

"You are well served here, " he observed, with involuntary sarcasm. 

"That, for your own sake as well as ours, is necessary, " was the tersereply. "To continue, people of unsound mind are remarkably tenaciousof their ideas. There was certainly nothing of the murderess in herdemeanour towards you last night. Cannot you see that a too friendlyattitude on her part might become fatal to our schemes?"

"In what way?"

"If ever your identity is doubted, " Seaman explained, "the probabilityof which is, I must confess, becoming less every day, the fact that LadyDominey seems to have so soon forgotten all her enmity towards you wouldbe strong presumptive evidence that you are not the man you claim tobe. "

"Ingenious, " Dominey assented, "and very possible. All this time, however, we speak on what you yourself admit to be a side issue. "

"You are right, " Seaman confessed. "Very well, then, listen. A greatmoment has arrived for you, my friend. "

"Explain if you please. "

"I shall do so. You have seen proof, during the last few days, that youhave an organisation behind you to whom money is dross. It is the samein diplomacy as in war. Germany will pay the price for what she intendsto achieve. Ninety thousand pounds was yesterday passed to the credit ofyour account for the extinction of certain mortgages. In a few months'or a few years' time, some distant Dominey will benefit to that extent. We cannot recover the money. It is just an item in our day by dayexpenses. "

"It was certainly a magnificent way of establishing me, " Domineyadmitted. 

"Magnificent, but safest in the long run, " Seaman declared. "If youhad returned a poor man, everybody's hand would have been against you;suspicions, now absolutely unkindled, might have been formed; and, moreimportant, perhaps, than either, you would not have been able to takeyour place in Society, which is absolutely necessary for the furtheranceof our scheme. "

"Is it not almost time, " Dominey enquired, "that the way was made alittle clearer for me?"

"That would have been my task this morning, " Seaman replied, "but forthe news I bring. In passing, however, let me promise you this. You willnever be asked to stoop to the crooked ways of the ordinary spy. We wantyou for a different purpose. "

"And the news?"

"What must be the greatest desire in your heart, " Seaman said solemnly, "is to be granted. The Kaiser has expressed a desire to see you, to giveyou his instructions in person. "

Dominey stopped short upon the terrace. He withdrew his arm from hiscompanion's and stared at him blankly. 

"The Kaiser?" he exclaimed. "You mean that I am to go to Germany?"

"We shall start at once, " Seaman replied. "Personally, I do not considerthe proceeding discreet or necessary. It has been decided upon, however, without consulting me. "

"I consider it suicidal, " Dominey protested. "What explanation canI possibly make for going to Germany, of all countries in the world, before I have had time to settle down here?"

"That of itself will not be difficult, " his companion pointed out. "Manyof the mines in which a share has been bought in your name are being runwith German capital. It is easy to imagine that a crisis has arisenin the management of one of them. We require the votes of our fellowshareholders. You need not trouble your head about that. And think ofthe wonder of it! If only for a single day your sentence of banishmentis lifted. You will breathe the air of the Fatherland once more. "

"It will be wonderful, " Dominey muttered. 

"It will be for you, " Seaman promised, "a breath of the things that areto come. And now, action. How I love action! That time-table, my friend, and your chauffeur. "

It was arranged that the two men should leave during the morning forNorwich by motor-car and thence to Harwich. Dominey, having changed intotravelling clothes, sent a messenger for Mrs. Unthank, who came to himpresently in his study. He held out a chair to her, which she declined, however, to take. 

"Mrs. Unthank, " he said, "I should like to know why you have beencontent to remain my wife's attendant for the last ten years?"

Mrs. Unthank was startled by the suddenness of the attack. 

"Lady Dominey has needed me, " she answered, after a moment's pause. 

"Do you consider, " he asked, "that you have been the best possiblecompanion for her?"

"She has never been willing to accept any other, " the woman replied. 

"Are you very devoted to my wife?" he enquired. 

Mrs. Unthank, grim and fierce though she was and appeared to be, wasobviously disconcerted by Dominey's line of questions. 

"If I weren't, " she demanded, "should I have been here all these years?"

"I scarcely see, " he continued, "what particular claim my wife has hadupon you. I understand, moreover, that you are one of those who firmlybelieve that I killed your son. Is this attendance upon my wife aChristian act, then--the returning of good for evil?"

"Exactly what do you want to say to me, Sir Everard?" she asked harshly. 

"I wish to say this, " Dominey replied, "that I am determined to bringabout my wife's restoration to health. For that reason I am going tohave specialists down here, and above all things to change for a timeher place of residence. My own feeling is that she will stand a muchbetter chance of recovery without your attendance. "

"You would dare to send me away?" the woman demanded. 

"That is my intention, " Dominey confessed. "I have not spoken to LadyDominey yet, but I hope that very soon my influence over her will besuch that she will be content to obey my wishes. I look upon your futurefrom the financial point of view, as my care. I shall settle upon youthe sum of three hundred pounds a year. "

The woman showed her first sign of weakness. She began to shake. Therewas a curious look of fear in her eyes. 

"I can't leave this place, Sir Everard, " she cried. "I must stay here!"

"Why?" he demanded. 

"Lady Dominey couldn't do without me, " she answered sullenly. 

"That, " he replied, "is for her to decide. Personally, from enquiriesI have made, I believe that you have encouraged in her that ridiculoussuperstition about the ghost of your son. I also believe that you havekept alive in her that spirit of unreasonable hatred which she has felttowards me. "

"Unreasonable, you call it?" the woman almost shouted. "You, who camehome to her with the blood on your hands of the man whom, if only youhad kept away, she might one day have loved? Unreasonable, you call it?"

"I have finished what I had to say, Mrs. Unthank, " Dominey declared. "Iam compelled by important business to leave here for two or threedays. On my return I shall embark upon the changes with which I haveacquainted you. In the meantime, " he added, watching a curious change inthe woman's expression, "I have written this morning to Doctor Harrison, asking him to come up this afternoon and to keep Lady Dominey under hispersonal observation until my return. "

She stood quite still, looking at him. Then she came a little nearer andleaned forward, as though studying his face. 

"Eleven years, " she muttered, "do change many men, but I never knew aman made out of a weakling. "

"I have nothing more to say to you, " Dominey replied, "except to let youknow that I am coming to see my wife in the space of a few minutes. "

The motor-horn was already sounding below when Dominey was admitted tohis wife's apartment. She was dressed in a loose gown of a warm crimsoncolour, and she had the air of one awaiting his arrival expectantly. Thepassion of hatred seemed to have passed from her pale face and from thedepths of her strangely soft eyes. She held out her hands towards him. Her brows were a little puckered. The disappointment of a child lurkedin her manner. 

"You are going away?" she murmured. 

"In a very few moments, " he told her. "I have been waiting to see youfor an hour. "

She made a grimace. 

"It was Mrs. Unthank. I think that she hid my things on purpose. I wasso anxious to see you. "

"I want to talk to you about Mrs. Unthank, " he said. "Should you be veryunhappy if I sent her away and found some one younger and kinder to beyour companion?"

The idea seemed to be outside the bounds of her comprehension. 

"Mrs. Unthank would never go, " she declared. "She stays here to listento the voice. All night long sometimes she waits and listens, and itdoesn't come. Then she hears it, and she is rested. "

"And you?" he asked. 

"I am afraid, " she confessed. "But then, you see, I am not very strong. "

"You are not fond of Mrs. Unthank?" he enquired anxiously. 

"I don't think so, " she answered, in a perplexed tone. "I think I amvery much afraid of her. But it is no use, Everard! She would never goaway. "

"When I return, " Dominey said, "we shall see. "

She took his arm and linked her hands through it. 

"I am so sorry that you are going, " she murmured. "I hope you will sooncome back. Will you come back--my husband?"

Dominey's nails cut into the flesh of his clenched hands. 

"I will come back within three days, " he promised. 

"Do you know, " she went on confidentially, "something has come into mymind lately. I spoke about it yesterday, but I did not tell you what itwas. You need never be afraid of me any more. I understand. "

"What do you understand?" he demanded huskily. 

"The knowledge must have come to me, " she went on, dropping her voicea little and whispering almost in his ear, "at the very moment when mydagger rested upon your throat, when I suddenly felt the desire to killdie away. You are very like him sometimes, but you are not Everard. Youare not my husband at all. You are another man. "

Dominey gave a little gasp. They both turned towards the door. Mrs. Unthank was standing there, her gaunt, hard face lit up with a gleamof something which was like triumph, her eyes glittering. Her lips, asthough involuntarily, repeated her mistress' last words. 

"Another man!"

CHAPTER XIV

There were times during their rapid journey when Seaman, studying hiscompanion, became thoughtful. Dominey seemed, indeed, to have passedbeyond the boundaries of any ordinary reserve, to have become like a manimmeshed in the toils of a past so absorbing that he moved as though ina dream, speaking only when necessary and comporting himself generallylike one to whom all externals have lost significance. As they embarkedupon the final stage of their travels, Seaman leaned forward in his seatin the sombrely upholstered, overheated compartment. 

"Your home-coming seems to depress you, Von Ragastein, " he said. 

"It was not my intention, " Dominey replied, "to set foot in Germanyagain for many years. "

"The past still bites?"

"Always. "

The train sped on through long chains of vineyard-covered hills, outinto a stretch of flat country, into forests of pines, in the midstof which were great cleared spaces, where, notwithstanding the closelydrawn windows, the resinous odour from the fallen trunks seemed topermeate the compartment. Presently they slackened speed. Seaman glancedat his watch and rose. 

"Prepare yourself, my friend, " he said. "We descend in a few minutes. "

Dominey glanced out of the window. 

"But where are we?" he enquired. 

"Within five minutes of our destination. "

"But there is not a house in sight, " Dominey remarked wonderingly. 

"You will be received on board His Majesty's private train, " Seamanannounced. "The Kaiser, with his staff, is making one of his militarytours. We are honoured by being permitted to travel back with him as faras the Belgian frontier. "

They had come to a standstill now. A bearded and uniformed officialthrew open the door of their compartment, and they stepped on to thenarrow wooden platform of a small station which seemed to have beenrecently built of fresh pine planks. The train, immediately they hadalighted, passed on. Their journey was over. 

A brief conversation was carried on between Seaman and the official, during which Dominey took curious note of his surroundings. Around thestation, half hidden in some places by the trees and shrubs, was drawna complete cordon of soldiers, who seemed to have recently disembarkedfrom a military train which stood upon a siding. In the middle of it wasa solitary saloon carriage, painted black, with much gold ornamentation, and having emblazoned upon the central panel the royal arms of Germany. Seaman, when he had finished his conversation, took Dominey by the armand led him across the line towards it. An officer received them at thesteps and bowed punctiliously to Dominey, at whom he gazed with muchinterest. 

"His Majesty will receive you at once, " he announced. "Follow me. "

They boarded the train and passed along a richly carpeted corridor. Their guide paused and pointed to a small retiring-room, where severalmen were seated. 

"Herr Seaman will find friends there, " he said. "His Imperial Majestywill receive him for a few minutes later. The Baron Von Ragastein willcome this way. "

Dominey was ushered now into the main saloon. His guide motioned him toremain near the entrance, and, himself advancing a few paces, stood atthe salute before a seated figure who was bending over a map, which astern-faced man in the uniform of a general had unrolled before him. TheKaiser glanced up at the sound of footsteps and whispered something inthe general's ear. The latter clicked his heels together and retired. The Kaiser beckoned Dominey to advance. 

"The Baron Von Ragastein, your Majesty, " the young officer murmured. 

Dominey stood at attention for a moment and bowed a little awkwardly. The Kaiser smiled. 

"It pleases me, " he said, "to see a German officer ill at ease withouthis uniform. Count, you will leave us. Baron Von Ragastein, be seated. "

"Sir Everard Dominey, at your service, Majesty, " Dominey replied, as hetook the chair to which his august host pointed. 

"Thorough in all things, I see, " the latter observed. "Sit there and beat your ease. Good reports have reached me of your work in Africa. "

"I did my best to execute your Majesty's will, " Dominey ventured. 

"You did so well, " the Kaiser pronounced, "that my counsellors wereunanimous in advising your withdrawal to what will shortly become thegreat centre of interest. From the moment of receiving our commands youappear to have displayed initiative. I gather that your personation ofthis English baronet has been successfully carried through?"

"Up to the present, your Majesty. "

"Important though your work in Africa was, " the Kaiser continued, "yourpresent task is a far greater one. I wish to speak to you for these fewminutes without reserve. First, though, drink a toast with me. "

From a mahogany stand at his elbow, the Kaiser drew out a long-neckedbottle of Moselle, filled two very beautiful glasses, passed one to hiscompanion and raised the other. 

"To the Fatherland!" he said. 

"To the Fatherland!" Dominey repeated. 

They set down their glasses, empty. The Kaiser threw back the greymilitary cloak which he was wearing, displaying a long row of medals anddecorations. His fingers still toyed with the stem of his wineglass. Heseemed for a moment to lose himself in thought. His hard and somewhatcruel mouth was tightly closed; there was a slight frown upon hisforehead. He was sitting upright, taking no advantage of the cushionedback of his easy-chair, his eyes a little screwed up, the frowndeepening. For quite five minutes there was complete silence. Onemight have gathered that, turning aside from great matters, he had beendevoting himself entirely to the scheme in which Dominey was concerned. 

"Von Ragastein, " he said at last, "I have sent for you to have a fewwords concerning your habitation in England. I wish you to receive yourimpressions of your mission from my own lips. "

"Your Majesty does me great honour, " Dominey murmured. 

"I wish you to consider yourself, " the Kaiser continued, "as entirelyremoved from the limits, the authority and the duties of my espionagesystem. From you I look for other things. I desire you to enter into thespirit of your assumed position. As a typical English country gentlemanI desire you to study the labour question, the Irish question, theprogress of this National Service scheme, and other social movements ofwhich you will receive notice in due time. I desire a list compiledof those writers who, in the Reviews, or by means of fiction, areencouraging the suspicions which I am inclined to fancy England hasbegun to entertain towards the Fatherland. These things are all onthe fringe of your real mission. That, I believe, our admirable friendSeaman has already confided to you. It is to seek the friendship, ifpossible the intimacy, of Prince Terniloff. "

The Kaiser paused, and once more his eyes wandered to the landscapewhich rolled away from the plate-glass windows of the car. They werecertainly not the eyes of a dreamer, and yet in those moments theyseemed filled with brooding pictures. 

"The Princess has already received me graciously, " Dominey confided. 

"Terniloff is the dove of peace, " the Kaiser pronounced. "He carriesthe sprig of olive in his mouth. My statesmen and counsellors would havesent to London an ambassador with sterner qualities. I preferred not. Terniloff is the man to gull fools, because he is a fool himself. He isa fit ambassador for a country which has not the wit to arm itself onland as well as by sea, when it sees a nation, mightier, more cultured, more splendidly led than its own, creeping closer every day. "

"The English appear to put their whole trust in their navy, yourMajesty, " Dominey observed tentatively. 

The eyes of his companion flashed. His lips curled contemptuously. 

"Fools!" he exclaimed. "Of what use will their navy be when my sword isonce drawn, when I hold the coast towns of Calais and Boulogne, whenmy cannon command the Straits of Dover! The days of insular nations arepassed, passed as surely as the days of England's arrogant supremacyupon the seas. "

The Kaiser refilled his glass and Dominey's. 

"In some months' time, Von Ragastein, " he continued, "you willunderstand why you have been enjoined to become the friend and companionof Terniloff. You will understand your mission a little more clearlythan you do now. Its exact nature waits upon developments. You can atall times trust Seaman. "

Dominey bowed and remained silent. His companion continued after anotherbrief spell of silent brooding. 

"Von Ragastein, " he said, "my decree of banishment against you was ajust one. The morals of my people are as sacred to me as my oath to winfor them a mightier empire. You first of all betrayed the wife of one ofthe most influential noblemen of a State allied to my own, and then, inthe duel that followed, you slew him. "

"It was an accident, your Majesty, " Dominey pleaded. "I had no intentionof even wounding the Prince. "

The Kaiser frowned. All manner of excuses were loathsome to him. 

"The accident should have happened the other way, " he rejoined sharply. "I should have lost a valuable servant, but it was your life which wasforfeit, and not his. Still, they tell me that your work in Africawas well and thoroughly done. I give you this one great chance ofrehabilitation. If your work in England commends itself to me, thesentence of exile under which you suffer shall be rescinded. "

"Your Majesty is too good, " Dominey murmured. "The work, for its ownsake, will command my every effort, even without the hope of reward. "

"That, " the Kaiser said, "is well spoken. It is the spirit, I believe, with which every son of my Empire regards the future. I think that they, too, more especially those who surround my person, have felt somethingof that divine message which has come to me. For many years I have, forthe sake of my people, willed peace. Now that the time draws near whenHeaven has shown me another duty, I have no fear but that every loyalGerman will bow his head before the lightnings which will play aroundmy sword and share with me the iron will to wield it. Your audienceis finished, Baron Von Ragastein. You will take your place with thegentlemen of my suite in the retiring-room. We shall proceed within afew minutes and leave you at the Belgian frontier. "

Dominey rose, bowed stiffly and backed down the carpeted way. The Kaiserwas already bending once more over the map. Seaman, who was waitingoutside the door of the anteroom, called him in and introduced him toseveral members of the suite. One, a young man with a fixed monocle, scars upon his face, and a queer, puppet-like carriage, looked at him alittle strangely. 

"We met some years ago in Munich, Baron, " he remarked. 

"I acknowledge no former meetings with any one in this country, " Domineyreplied stiffly. "I obey the orders of my Imperial master when I wipefrom my mind every episode or reminiscence of my former days. "

The young man's face cleared, and Seaman, by his side, who had knittedhis brows thoughtfully, nodded understandingly. 

"You are certainly a good actor, Baron, " he declared. "Even your Germanhas become a little English. Sit down and join us in a glass of beer. Luncheon will be served to us here in a few minutes. You will not berecalled to the Presence until we set you down. "

Dominey bowed stiffly and took his place with the others. The train hadalready started. Dominey gazed thoughtfully out of the window. Seaman, who was waiting about for his audience, patted him on the arm. 

"Dear friend, " he said, "I sympathise with you. You sorrow because yourback is now to Berlin. Still, remember this, that the day is not far offwhen the sentence of exile against you will be annulled. You will haveexpiated that crime which, believe me, although I do not venture toclaim a place amongst them, none of your friends and equals have everregarded in the same light as His Imperial Majesty. "

A smiling steward, in black livery with white facings, made hisappearance and served them with beer in tall glasses. The senior officerthere, who had now seated himself opposite to Dominey, raised his glassand bowed. 

"To the Baron Von Ragastein, " he said, "whose acquaintance I regret nothaving made before to-day. May we soon welcome him back, a brother inarms, a companion in great deeds! Hoch!"

CHAPTER XV

Sir Everard Dominey, Baronet, the latest and most popular recruit toNorfolk sporting society, stood one afternoon, some months after hisreturn from Germany, at the corner of the long wood which stretched fromthe ridge of hills behind almost to the kitchen gardens of the Hall. Ata reasonable distance on his left, four other guns were posted. On oneside of him stood Middleton, leaning on his ash stick and listeningto the approach of the beaters; on the other, Seaman, curiously out ofplace in his dark grey suit and bowler hat. The old keeper, whom timeseemed to have cured of all his apprehensions, was softly garrulous andvery happy. 

"That do seem right to have a Squire Dominey at this corner, " heobserved, watching a high cock pheasant come crashing down over theirheads. "I mind when the Squire, your father, sir, gave up this cornerone day to Lord Wendermere, whom folks called one of the finest pheasantshots in England, and though they streamed over his head like starlings, he'd nowt but a few cripples to show for his morning's work. "

"Come out with a bit of a twist from the left, don't they?" Domineyremarked, repeating his late exploit. 

"They do that, sir, " the old man assented, "and no one but a Domineyseems to have learnt the knack of dealing with them proper. That foreignPrince, so they say, is well on to his birds, but I wouldn't trust himat this corner. "

The old man moved off a few paces to some higher ground, to watchthe progress of the beaters through the wood. Seaman turned to hiscompanion, and there was a note of genuine admiration in his tone. 

"My friend, " he declared, "You are a miracle. You seem to have developedthe Dominey touch even in killing pheasants. "

"You must remember that I have shot higher ones in Hungary, " was theeasy reply. 

"I am not a sportsman, " Seaman admitted. "I do not understand sport. ButI do know this: there is an old man who has lived on this land since theday of his birth, who has watched you shoot, reverently, and finds eventhe way you hold your gun familiar. "

"That twist of the birds, " Dominey explained, "is simply a localsuperstition. The wood ends on the slant, and they seem to be flyingmore to the left than they really are. "

Seaman gazed steadfastly for a moment along the side of the wood. 

"Her Grace is coming, " he said. "She seems to share the Duke's dislikeof me, and she is too great a lady to conceal her feelings. Just oneword before I go. The Princess Eiderstrom arrives this afternoon. "

Dominey frowned, then, warned by the keeper's shout, turned around andkilled a hare. 

"My friend, " he said, with a certain note of challenge in his tone, "Iam not certain that you have told me all that you know concerning thePrincess's visit. "

Seaman was thoughtful for a brief space of time. 

"You are right, " he admitted, "I have not. It is a fault which I willrepair presently. "

He strolled away to the next stand, where Mr. Mangan was displaying analtogether different standard of proficiency. The Duchess came up toDominey a few minutes later. 

"I told Henry I shouldn't stop with him another moment, " she declared. "He has fired off about forty cartridges and wounded one hare. "

"Henry is not keen, " Dominey remarked, "although I think you are alittle hard on him, are you not? I saw him bring down a nice cock justnow. So far as regards the birds, it really does not matter. They areall going home. "

The Duchess was very smartly tailored in clothes of brown leathermixture. She wore thick shoes and gaiters and a small hat. She waslooking very well but a little annoyed. 

"I hear, " she said, "that Stephanie is coming to-day. "

Dominey nodded, and seemed for a moment intent on watching the flight ofa pigeon which kept tantalisingly out of range. 

"She is coming down for a few days, " he assented. "I am afraid that shewill be bored to death. "

"Where did you become so friendly with her?" his cousin asked curiously. 

"The first time we ever met, " Dominey replied, "was in the Carlton grillroom, a few days after I landed in England. She mistook me for some oneelse, and we parted with the usual apologies. I met her the same nightat Carlton House Terrace--she is related to the Terniloffs--and we cameacross one another pretty often after that, during the short time I wasin town. "

"Yes, " the Duchess murmured meditatively. "That is another of the littlesurprises you seem to have all ready dished up for us. How on earth didyou become so friendly with the German Ambassador?"

Dominey smiled tolerantly. 

"Really, " he replied, "there is not anything so very extraordinary aboutit, is there? Mr. Seaman, my partner in one or two mining enterprises, took me to call upon him. He is very interested in East Africa, politically and as a sportsman. Our conversations seemed to interesthim and led to a certain intimacy--of which I may say that I am proud. Ihave the greatest respect and liking for the Prince. "

"So have I, " Caroline agreed. "I think he's charming. Henry declaresthat he must be either a fool or a knave. "

"Henry is blinded by prejudice, " Dominey declared a little impatiently. "He cannot imagine a German who feasts with any one else but the devil. "

"Don't get annoyed, dear, " she begged, resting her fingers for a momentupon his coat sleeve. "I admire the Prince immensely. He is absolutelythe only German I ever met whom one felt instinctively to be agentleman. --Now what are you smiling at?"

Dominey turned a perfectly serious face towards her. "Not guilty, " hepleaded. 

"I saw you smile. "

"It was just a quaint thought. You are rather sweeping, are you not, Caroline?"

"I'm generally right, " she declared. --"To return to the subject ofStephanie. "

"Well?"

"Do you know whom she mistook you for in the Carlton grill room?"

"Tell me?" he answered evasively. 

"She mistook you for a Baron Leopold Von Ragastein, " Caroline continueddrily. "Von Ragastein was her lover in Hungary. He fought a duel withher husband and killed him. The Kaiser was furious and banished him toEast Africa. "

Dominey picked up his shooting-stick and handed his gun to Middleton. The beaters were through the wood. 

"Yes, I remember now, " he said. "She addressed me as Leopold. "

"I still don't see why it was necessary to invite her here, " hiscompanion observed a little petulantly. "She may--call you Leopoldagain!"

"If she does, I shall be deaf, " Dominey promised. "But seriously, she isa cousin of the Princess Terniloff, and the two women are devoted to oneanother. The Princess hates shooting parties, so I thought they couldentertain one another. "

"Bosh! Stephanie will monopolise you all the time! That's what's she'scoming for. "

"You are not suggesting that she intends seriously to put me in theplace of my double?" Dominey asked, with mock alarm. 

"Oh, I shouldn't wonder! And she's an extraordinarily attractive woman. I'm full of complaints, Everard. There's that other horrible little man, Seaman. You know that the very sight of him makes Henry furious. I amquite sure that he never expected to sit down at the same table withhim. "

"I am really sorry about that, " Dominey assured her, "but you see HisExcellency takes a great interest in him on account of this FriendshipLeague, of which Seaman is secretary, and he particularly asked to havehim here. "

"Well, you must admit that the situation is a little awkward for Henry, "she complained. "Next to Lord Roberts, Henry is practically the leaderof the National Service movement here; he hates Germany and distrustsevery German he ever met, and in a small house party like this we meetthe German Ambassador and a man who is working hard to lull to sleep thevery sentiments which Henry is endeavouring to arouse. "

"It sounds very pathetic, " Dominey admitted, with a smile, "but evenHenry likes Terniloff, and after all it is stimulating to meet one'sopponents sometimes. "

"Of course he likes Terniloff, " Caroline assented, "but he hates thethings he stands for. However, I'd have forgiven you everything if onlyStephanie weren't coming. That woman is really beginning to irritate me. She always seems to be making mysterious references to some sentimentalpast in which you both are concerned, and for which there can be nofoundation at all except your supposed likeness to her exiled lover. Why, you never met her until that day at the Carlton!"

"She was a complete stranger to me, " Dominey asserted. 

"Then all I can say is that you have been unusually rapid if you'vemanaged to create a past in something under three months!" Carolinepronounced suspiciously. "I call her coming here a most bare-facedproceeding, especially as this is practically a bachelor establishment. "

They had arrived at the next stand, and conversation was temporarilysuspended. A flight of wild duck were put out from a pool in the wood, and for a few minutes every one was busy. Middleton watched his masterwith unabated approval. 

"You're most as good as the old Squire with them high duck, SirEverard, " he said. "That's true very few can touch 'em when they'recoming out nigh to the pheasants. They can't believe in the speed of'em. "

"Do you think Sir Everard shoots as well as he did before he went toAfrica?" Caroline asked. 

Middleton touched his hat and turned to Seaman, who was standing in thebackground. 

"Better, your Grace, " he answered, "as I was saying to this gentlemanhere, early this morning. He's cooler like and swings more level. I'dhave known his touch on a gun anywhere, though. "

There was a glint of admiration in Seaman's eyes. The beaters camethrough the wood, and the little party of guns gossiped together whilethe game was collected. Terniloff, his usual pallor chased away bythe bracing wind and the pleasure of the sport, was affable and evenloquacious. He had great estates of his own in Saxony and was explainingto the Duke his manner of shooting them. Middleton glanced at hishorn-rimmed watch. 

"There's another hour's good light, sir, " he said. "Would you care abouta partridge drive, or should we do through the home copse?"

"If I might make a suggestion, " Terniloff observed diffidently, "mostof the pheasants went into that gloomy-looking wood just across themarshes. "

There was a moment's rather curious silence. Dominey had turned and waslooking towards the wood in question, as though fascinated by its almostsinister-like blackness and density. Middleton had dropped some game hewas carrying and was muttering to himself. 

"We call that the Black Wood, " Dominey said calmly, "and I am ratherafraid that the pheasants who find their way there claim sanctuary. Whatdo you think, Middleton?"

The old man turned his head slowly and looked at his master. Somehowor other, every scrap of colour seemed to have faded out of his bronzedface. His eyes were filled with that vague horror of the supernaturalcommon amongst the peasant folk of various localities. His voice shook. The old fear was back again. 

"You wouldn't put the beaters in there, Squire?" he faltered; "not thatthere's one of them would go. "

"Have we stumbled up against a local superstition?" the Duke enquired. 

"That's not altogether local, your Grace, " Middleton replied, "as theSquire himself will tell you. I doubt whether there's a beater in allNorfolk would go through the Black Wood, if you paid him red gold forit. --Here, you lads. "

He turned to the beaters, who were standing waiting for instructions afew yards away. There were a dozen of them, stalwart men for the mostpart, clad in rough smocks and breeches and carrying thick sticks. 

"There's one of the gentlemen here, " Middleton announced, addressingthem, "who wants to know if you'd go through the Black Wood of Domineyfor a sovereign apiece?--Watch their faces, your Grace. --Now then, lads?"

There was no possibility of any mistake. The very suggestion seemedto have taken the healthy sunburn from their cheeks. They fumbled withtheir sticks uneasily. One of them touched his hat and spoke to Dominey. 

"I'm one as 'as seen it, sir, as well as heard, " he said. "I'd soonergive up my farm than go nigh the place. "

Caroline suddenly passed her arm through Dominey's. There was a note ofdistress in her tone. 

"Henry, you're an idiot!" she exclaimed. "It was my fault, Everard. I'mso sorry. Just for one moment I had forgotten. I ought to have stoppedHenry at once. The poor man has no memory. "

Dominey's arm responded for a moment to the pressure of her fingers. Then he turned to the beaters. 

"Well, no one is going to ask you to go to the Black Wood, " he promised. "Get round to the back of Hunt's stubbles, and bring them into the rootsand then over into the park. We will line the park fence. How is that, Middleton?"

The keeper touched his hat and stepped briskly off. 

"I'll just have a walk with them myself, sir, " he said. "Them birdsdo break at Fuller's corner. I'll see if I can flank them. You'll knowwhere to put the guns, Squire. "

Dominey nodded. One and all the beaters were walking with mostunaccustomed speed towards their destination. Their backs were towardsthe Black Wood. Terniloff came up to his host. 

"Have I, by chance, been terribly tactless?" he asked. 

Dominey shook his head. 

"You asked a perfectly natural question, Prince, " he replied. "There isno reason why you should not know the truth. Near that wood occurred thetragedy which drove me from England for so many years. "

"I am deeply grieved, " the Prince began--

"It is false sentiment to avoid allusions to it, " Dominey interrupted. "I was attacked there one night by a man who had some cause for offenceagainst me. We fought, and I reached home in a somewhat alarming state. My condition terrified my wife so much that she has been an invalidever since. But here is the point which has given birth to all thesesuperstitions, and which made me for many years a suspected person. Theman with whom I fought has never been seen since. "

Terniloff was at once too fascinated by the story and puzzled by hishost's manner of telling it to maintain his apologetic attitude. 

"Never seen since!" he repeated. 

"My own memory as to the end of our fight is uncertain, " Domineycontinued. "My impression is that I left my assailant unconscious uponthe ground. "

"Then it is his ghost, I imagine, who haunts the Black Wood?"

Dominey shook himself as one who would get rid of an unwholesomethought. 

"The wood itself, Prince, " he explained, as they walked along, "is anoisome place. There are quagmires even in the middle of it, where a manmay sink in and be never heard of again. Every sort of vermin aboundsthere, every unclean insect and bird are to be found in the thickets. Isuppose the character of the place has encouraged the local superstitionin which every one of those men firmly believes. "

"They absolutely believe the place to be haunted, then?"

"The superstition goes further, " Dominey continued. "Our locals say thatsomewhere in the heart of the wood, where I believe that no human beingfor many years has dared to penetrate, there is living in the spiritualsense some sort of a demon who comes out only at night and howlsunderneath my windows. "

"Has any one ever seen it?"

"One or two of the villagers; to the best of my belief, no one else, "Dominey replied. 

Terniloff seemed on the point of asking more questions, but the Duketouched him on the arm and drew him to one side, as though to call hisattention to the sea fogs which were rolling up from the marshes. 

"Prince, " he whispered, "the details of that story are inextricablymixed up with the insanity of Lady Dominey. I am sure you understand. "

The Prince, a diplomatist to his fingertips, appeared shocked, althougha furtive smile still lingered upon his lips. 

"I regret my faux pas most deeply, " he murmured. "Sir Everard, " he wenton, "you promised to tell me of some of your days with a shotgun inSouth Africa. Isn't there a bird there which corresponds with yourpartridges?"

Dominey smiled. 

"If you can kill the partridges which Middleton is going to send overin the next ten minutes, " he said, "you could shoot anything of the sortthat comes along in East Africa, with a catapult. If you will stand justa few paces there to the left, Henry, Terniloff by the gate, Stillwellup by the left-hand corner, Mangan next, Eddy next, and I shall be justbeyond towards the oak clump. Will you walk with me, Caroline?"

His cousin took his arm as they walked off and pressed it. 

"Everard, I congratulate you, " she said. "You have conquered your nerveabsolutely. You did a simple and a fine thing to tell the whole story. Why, you were almost matter-of-fact. I could even have imagined you weretelling it about some one else. "

Her host smiled enigmatically. 

"Curious that it should have struck you like that, " he remarked. "Doyou know, when I was telling it I had the same feeling. --Do you mindcrouching down a little now? I am going to blow the whistle. "

CHAPTER XVI

Even in the great dining-room of Dominey Hall, the mahogany table whichwas its great glory was stretched that evening to its extreme capacity. Besides the house party, which included the Right Honourable GeraldWatson, a recently appointed Cabinet Minister, there were several guestsfrom the neighbourhood--the Lord Lieutenant of the County and othernotabilities. Caroline, with the Lord Lieutenant on one side of her andTerniloff on the other played the part of hostess adequately but withoutenthusiasm. Her eyes seldom left for long the other end of the table, where Stephanie, at Dominey's left hand, with her crown of exquisitelycoiffured red-gold hair, her marvellous jewellery, her languorous graceof manner, seemed more like one of the beauties of an ancient VenetianCourt than a modern Hungarian Princess gowned in the Rue de la Paix. Conversation remained chiefly local and concerned the day's sport andkindred topics. It was not until towards the close of the meal that theDuke succeeded in launching his favourite bubble. 

"I trust, Everard, " he said, raising his voice a little as he turnedtowards his host, "that you make a point of inculcating the principlesof National Service into your tenantry here. "

Dominey's reply was a little dubious. 

"I am afraid they do not take to the idea very kindly in this part ofthe world, " he confessed. "Purely agricultural districts are always alittle difficult. "

"It is your duty as a landowner, " the Duke insisted, "to alter theirpoint of view. There is not the slightest doubt, " he added, lookingbelligerently over the top of his _pince nez_ at Seaman, who was seatedat the opposite side of the table, "that before long we shall findourselves--and in a shocking state of unpreparedness, mind you--at warwith Germany. "

Lady Maddeley, the wife of the Lord Lieutenant, who sat at his side, seemed a little startled. She was probably one of the only peoplepresent who was not aware of the Duke's foible. 

"Do you really think so?" she asked. "The Germans seem such civilisedpeople, so peaceful and domestic in their home life, and that sort ofthing. "

The Duke groaned. He glanced down the table to be sure that PrinceTerniloff was out of hearing. 

"My dear Lady Maddeley, " he declared, "Germany is not governed likeEngland. When the war comes, the people will have had nothing to do withit. A great many of them will be just as surprised as you will be, butthey will fight all the same. "

Seaman, who had kept silence during the last few moments with greatdifficulty, now took up the Duke's challenge. 

"Permit me to assure you, madam, " he said, bowing across the table, "that the war with Germany of which the Duke is so afraid will nevercome. I speak with some amount of knowledge because I am a German bybirth, although naturalised in this country. I have as many and as dearfriends in Berlin as in London, and with the exception of my recentabsence in Africa, where I had the pleasure to meet our host, I spent agreat part of my time going back and forth between the two capitals. Ihave also the honour to be the secretary of a society for the promotionof a better understanding between the citizens of Germany and England. "

"Rubbish!" the Duke exclaimed. "The Germans don't want a betterunderstanding. They only want to fool us into believing that they do. "

Seaman looked a little pained. He stuck to his guns, however. 

"His Grace and I, " he observed, "are old opponents on this subject. "

"We are indeed, " the Duke agreed. "You may be an honest man, Mr. Seaman, but you are a very ignorant one upon this particular topic. "

"You are probably both right in your way, " Dominey intervened, very muchin the manner of a well-bred host making his usual effort to smooth overtwo widely divergent points of view. "There is no doubt a war party inGermany and a peace party, statesmen who place economic progress first, and others who are tainted with a purely military lust for conquest. In this country it is very hard for us to strike a balance between thetwo. "

Seaman beamed his thanks upon his host. 

"I have friends, " he said impressively, "in the very highest circlesof Germany, who are continually encouraging my work here, and I havereceived the benediction of the Kaiser himself upon my efforts topromote a better feeling in this country. And if you will forgive mysaying so, Duke, it is such ill-advised and ill-founded statements asyou are constantly making about my country which is the only bar to abetter understanding between us. "

"I have my views, " the Duke snapped, "and they have become convictions. I shall continue to express them at all times and with all the eloquenceat my command. "

The Ambassador, to whom portions of this conversation had now becomeaudible, leaned a little forward in his place. 

"Let me speak first as a private individual, " he begged, "and express mywell-studied opinion that war between our two countries would be simplyrace suicide, an indescribable and an abominable crime. Then I willremember what I represent over here, and I will venture to add inmy ambassadorial capacity that I come with an absolute and heartfeltmandate of peace. My task over here is to secure and ensure it. "

Caroline flashed a warning glance at her husband. 

"How nice of you to be so frank, Prince!" she said. "The Duke sometimesforgets, in the pursuit of his hobby, that a private dinner table is nota platform. I insist upon it that we discuss something of more genuineinterest. "

"There isn't a more vital subject in the world, " the Duke declared, resigning himself, however, to silence. 

"We will speak, " the Ambassador suggested, "of the way in which our hostbrought down those tall pheasants. "

"You will tell me, perhaps, " Seaman suggested to the lady to his right, "how you English women have been able to secure for yourselves so muchmore liberty than our German wives enjoy?"

"Later on, " Stephanie whispered to her host, with a little tremble inher voice, "I have a surprise for you. "

After dinner, Dominey's guests passed naturally enough to therelaxations which each preferred. There were two bridge tables, Terniloff and the Cabinet Minister played billiards, and Seaman, with atouch which amazed every one, drew strange music from the yellow keysof the old-fashioned grand piano in the drawing-room. Stephanie and herhost made a slow progress through the hall and picture gallery. For sometime their conversation was engaged solely with the objects to whichDominey drew his companion's attention. When they had passed out ofpossible hearing, however, of any of the other guests, Stephanie'sfingers tightened upon her companion's arm. 

"I wish to speak to you alone, " she said, "without the possibility ofany one overhearing. "

Dominey hesitated and looked behind. 

"Your guests are well occupied, " she continued a little impatiently, "and in any case I am one of them. I claim your attention. "

Dominey threw open the door of the library and turned on a couple of theelectric lights. She made her way to the great open fireplace, on whicha log was burning, looked down into the shadows of the room and backagain at her host's face. 

"For one moment, " she begged, "turn on all the lights. I wish to be surethat we are alone. "

Dominey did as he was bidden. The furthermost corners of the room, withits many wings of book-filled shelves, were illuminated. She nodded. 

"Now turn them all out again except this one, " she directed, "and wheelme up an easy-chair. No, I choose this settee. Please seat yourself bymy side. "

"Is this going to be serious?" he asked, with some slight disquietude. 

"Serious but wonderful, " she murmured, lifting her eyes to his. "Willyou please listen to me, Leopold?"

She was half curled up in a corner of the settee, her head restingslightly upon her long fingers, her brown eyes steadily fixed upon hercompanion. There was an atmosphere about her of serious yet of tenderthings. Dominey's face seemed to fall into more rigid lines as herealised the appeal of her eyes. 

"Leopold, " she began, "I left this country a few weeks ago, feeling thatyou were a brute, determined never to see you again, half inclined toexpose you before I went as an impostor and a charlatan. Germanymeans little to me, and a patriotism which took no account of humanobligations left me absolutely unresponsive. I meant to go homeand never to return to London. My heart was bruised, and I was veryunhappy. "

She paused, but her companion made no sign. She paused for so long, however, that speech became necessary. 

"You are speaking, Princess, " he said calmly, "to one who is notpresent. My name is no longer Leopold. "

She laughed at him with a curious mixture of tenderness and bitterness. 

"My friend, " she continued, "I am terrified to think, besides your name, how much of humanity you have lost in your new identity. To proceedit suited my convenience to remain for a few days in Berlin, and I wastherefore compelled to present myself at Potsdam. There I received agreat surprise. Wilhelm spoke to me of you, and though, alas! my heartis still bruised, he helped me to understand. "

"Is this wise?" he asked a little desperately. 

She ignored his words. 

"I was taken back into favour at Court, " she went on. "For that I owe toyou my thanks. Wilhelm was much impressed by your recent visit to him, and by the way in which you have established yourself here. He spokealso with warm commendation of your labours in Africa, which he seemedto appreciate all the more as you were sent there an exile. He askedme, Leopold, " she added, dropping her voice a little, "if my feelingstowards you remained unchanged. "

Dominey's face remained unrelaxed. Persistently he refused the challengeof her eyes. 

"I told him the truth, " she proceeded. "I told him how it all began, andhow it must last with me--to the end. We spoke even of the duel. I toldhim what both your seconds had explained to me, --that turn of the wrist, Conrad's wild lunge, how he literally threw himself upon the point ofyour sword. Wilhelm understands and forgives, and he has sent you thisletter. "

She drew a small grey envelope from her pocket. On the seal were theImperial Hohenzollern arms. She passed it to him. 

"Leopold, " she whispered, "please read that. "

He shook his head, although he accepted the letter with reluctantfingers. 

"Read the superscription, " she directed. 

He obeyed her. It was addressed in a strange, straggling handwriting to_Sir Everard Dominey, Baronet_. He broke the seal unwillingly and drewout the letter. It was dated barely a fortnight back. There was neitherbeginning or ending; just a couple of sentences scrawled across thethick notepaper:

"It is my will that you offer your hand in marriage to the PrincessStephanie of Eiderstrom. Your union shall be blessed by the Church andapproved by my Court. 

"WILHELM. "

Dominey sat as a man enthralled with silence. She watched him. 

"Not on your knees yet?" she asked, with faint but somewhat resentfulirony. "Can it be, Leopold, that you have lost your love for me? Youhave changed so much and in so many ways. Has the love gone?"

Even to himself his voice sounded harsh and unnatural, his wordsinstinct with the graceless cruelty of a clown. 

"This is not practical, " he declared. "Think! I am as I have beenaddressed here, and as I must remain yet for months to come--EverardDominey, an Englishman and the owner of this house--the husband of LadyDominey. "

"Where is your reputed wife?" Stephanie demanded, frowning. 

"In the nursing home where she has been for the last few months, " hereplied. "She has already practically recovered. She cannot remain theremuch longer. "

"You must insist upon it that she does. "

"I ask you to consider the suspicions which would be excited by such acourse, " Dominey pleaded earnestly, "and further, can you explain to mein what way I, having already, according to belief of everybody, anotherwife living, can take advantage of this mandate?"

She looked at him wonderingly. 

"You make difficulties? You sit there like the cold Englishman whoseplace you are taking, you whose tears have fallen before now upon myhand, whose lips--"

"You speak of one who is dead, " Dominey interrupted, "dead until thecoming of great events may bring him to life again. Until that time yourlover must be dumb. "

Then her anger blazed out. She spoke incoherently, passionately, draggedhis face down to hers and clenched her fist the next moment as thoughshe would have struck it. She broke down with a storm of tears. 

"Not so hard--not so hard, Leopold!" she implored. "Oh! yours is agreat task, and you must carry it through to the end, but we have hispermission--there can be found a way--we could be married secretly. Atleast your lips--your arms! My heart is starved, Leopold. "

He rose to his feet. Her arms were still twined about his neck, her lipshungry for his kisses, her eyes shining up into his. 

"Have pity on me, Stephanie, " he begged. "Until our time has come thereis dishonour even in a single kiss. Wait for the day, the day you knowof. "

She unwound her arms and shivered slightly. Her hurt eyes regarded himwonderingly. 

"Leopold, " she faltered, "what has changed you like this? What has driedup all the passion in you? You are a different man. Let me look at you. "

She caught him by the shoulders, dragged him underneath the electricglobe, and stood there gazing into his face. The great log upon thehearth was spluttering and fizzing. Through the closed door came thefaint wave of conversation and laughter from outside. Her breathing wasuneven, her eyes were seeking to rend the mask from his face. 

"Can you have learnt to care for any one else?" she muttered. "Therewere no women in Africa. This Rosamund Dominey, your reputed wife--theytell me that she is beautiful, that you have been kindness itself toher, that her health has improved since your coming, that she adoresyou. You wouldn't dare--"

"No, " he interrupted, "I should not dare. "

"Then what are you looking at?" she demanded. "Tell me that?"

Her eyes were following the shadowed picture which had passed out of theroom. He saw once more the slight, girlish form, the love-seeking lightin those pleading dark eyes, the tremulous lips, the whole sweet appealfor safety from a frightened child to him, the strong man. He felt theclinging touch of those soft fingers laid upon his, the sweetness ofthose marvellously awakened emotions, so cruelly and drearily stifledthrough a cycle of years. The woman's passion by his side seemedsuddenly tawdry and unreal, the seeking of her lips for his somethinghorrible. His back was towards the door, and it was her cry of angrydismay which first apprised him of a welcome intruder. He swung aroundto find Seaman standing upon the threshold--Seaman, to him a very angelof deliverance. 

"I am indeed sorry to intrude, Sir Everard, " the newcomer declared, witha shade of genuine concern on his round, good-humoured face. "Somethinghas happened which I thought you ought to know at once. Can you spare mea moment?"

The Princess swept past them without a word of farewell or a backwardglance. She had the carriage and the air of an insulted queen. A shadeof deeper trouble came into Seaman's face as he stepped respectfully toone side. 

"What is it that has happened?" Dominey demanded. 

"Lady Dominey has returned, " was the quiet reply. 

CHAPTER XVII

It seemed to Dominey that he had never seen anything more pathetic thanthat eager glance, half of hope, half of apprehension, flashed upon himfrom the strange, tired eyes of the woman who was standing beforethe log fire in a little recess of the main hall. By her side stood apleasant, friendly looking person in the uniform of a nurse; a yard ortwo behind, a maid carrying a jewel case. Rosamund, who had thrown backher veil, had been standing with her foot upon the fender. Her wholeexpression changed as Dominey came hastily towards her with outstretchedhands. 

"My dear child, " he exclaimed, "welcome home!"

"Welcome?" she repeated, with a glad catch in her throat. "You mean it?"

With a self-control of which he gave no sign, he touched the lips whichwere raised so eagerly to his as tenderly and reverently as though thiswere some strange child committed to his care. 

"Of course I mean it, " he answered heartily. "But what possessed you tocome without giving us notice? How was this, nurse?"

"Her ladyship has had no sleep for two nights, " the latter replied. "Shehas been so much better that we dreaded the thought of a relapse, soMrs. Coulson, our matron, thought it best to let her have her ownway about coming. Instead of telegraphing to you, unfortunately, wetelegraphed to Doctor Harrison, and I believe he is away. "

"Is it very wrong of me?" Rosamund asked, clinging to Dominey's arm. "I had a sudden feeling that I must get back here. I wanted to see youagain. Every one has been so sweet and kind at Falmouth, especiallyNurse Alice here, but they weren't quite the same thing. You are notangry? These people who are staying here will not mind?"

"Of course not, " he assured her cheerfully. "They will be your guests. To-morrow you must make friends with them all. "

"There was a very beautiful woman, " she said timidly, "with red hair, who passed by just now. She looked very angry. That was not because Ihave come?"

"Why should it be?" he answered. "You have a right here--a better rightthan any one. "

She drew a long sigh of contentment. 

"Oh, but this is wonderful!" she cried. "And you dear, --I shall call youEverard, mayn't I?--you look just as I hoped you might. Will you take meupstairs, please? Nurse, you can follow us. "

She leaned heavily on his arm and even loitered on the way, but hersteps grew lighter as they approached her own apartment. Finally, asthey reached the corridor, she broke away from him and tripped on withthe gaiety almost of a child to the door of her room. Then came a littlecry of disappointment as she flung open the door. Several maids werethere, busy with a refractory fire and removing the covers from thefurniture, but the room was half full of smoke and entirely unprepared. 

"Oh, how miserable!" she exclaimed. "Everard, what shall I do?"

He threw open the door of his own apartment. A bright fire was burningin the grate, the room was warm and comfortable. She threw herself witha little cry of delight into the huge Chesterfield drawn up to the edgeof the hearthrug. 

"I can stay here, Everard, can't I, until you come up to bed?" shepleaded. "And then you can sit and talk to me, and tell me who is hereand all about the people. You have no idea how much better I am. All mymusic has come back to me, and they say that I play bridge ever so well. I shall love to help you entertain. "

The maid was slowly unfastening her mistress's boots. Rosamund held upher foot for him to feel. 

"See how cold I am!" she complained. "Please rub it. I am going to havesome supper up here with nurse. Will one of you maids please go downand see about it? What a lot of nice new things you have, Everard!" sheadded, looking around. "And that picture of me from the drawing-room, onthe table!" she cried, her eyes suddenly soft with joy. "You dear thing!What made you bring that up?"

"I wanted to have it here, " he told her. 

"I'm not so nice as that now, " she sighed, a little wistfully. 

"Do not believe it, " he answered. "You have not changed in the least. You will be better-looking still when you have been here for a fewmonths. "

She looked at him almost shyly--tenderly, yet still with that gleam ofaloofness in her eyes. 

"I think, " she murmured, "I shall be just what you want me to be. Ithink you could make me just what you want. Be very kind to me, please, "she begged, stretching her arms out to him. "I suppose it is because Ihave been ill so long, but I feel so helpless, and I love your strengthand I want you to take care of me. Your own hands are quite cold, " sheadded anxiously. "You look pale, too. You're not ill, Everard?"

"I am very well, " he assured her, struggling to keep his voicesteady. "Forgive me now, won't you, if I hurry away. There are guestshere--rather important guests. To-morrow you must come and see themall. "

"And help you?"

"And help me. "

Dominey made his escape and went reeling down the corridor. At the topof the great quadrangular landing he stopped and stood with half-closedeyes for several moments. From downstairs he could hear the sound ofpleasantly raised voices, the music of a piano in the distance, the click of billiard balls. He waited until he had regained hisself-possession. Then, as he was on the point of descending, he sawSeaman mounting the stairs. At a gesture he waited for him, waited untilhe came, and, taking him by the arm, led him to a great settee in a darkcorner. Seaman had lost his usual blitheness. The good-humoured smileplayed no longer about his lips. 

"Where is Lady Dominey?" he asked. 

"In my room, waiting until her own is prepared. "

Seaman's manner was unusually grave. 

"My friend, " he said, "you know very well that when we walk in the greatpaths of life I am unscrupulous. In those other hours, alas! I have aweakness, --I love women. "

"Well?" Dominey muttered. 

"I will admit, " the other continued, "that you are placed in a delicateand trying position. Lady Dominey seems disposed to offer to you theaffection which, notwithstanding their troubles together, she doubtlessfelt for her husband. I risk your anger, my friend, but I warn you to bevery careful how you encourage her. "

A light flashed in Dominey's eyes. For the moment angry words seemedto tremble upon his lips. Seaman's manner, however, was very gentle. Hecourted no offence. 

"If you were to take advantage of your position with--with any other, I would shrug my shoulders and stand on one side, but this madEnglishman's wife, or rather his widow, has been mentally ill. She isstill weak-minded, just as she is tender-hearted. I watched her as shepassed through the hall with you just now. She turns to you for loveas a flower to the sun after a long spell of cold, wet weather. VonRagastein, you are a man of honour. You must find means to deal withthis situation, however difficult it may become. "

Dominey had recovered from his first wave of weakness. His companion'swords excited no sentiment of anger. He was conscious even of regardinghim with a greater feeling of kindness than ever before. 

"My friend, " he said, "you have shown me that you are conscious of onedilemma in which I find myself placed, and which I confess is exercisingme to the utmost. Let me now advise you of another. The PrincessEiderstrom has brought me an autograph letter from the Kaiser, commanding me to marry her. "

"The situation, " Seaman declared grimly, "but for its serious side, would provide all the elements for a Palais Royal farce. For thepresent, however, you have duties below. I have said the words whichwere thumping against the walls of my heart. "

Their descent was opportune. Some of the local guests were preparing tomake their departure, and Dominey was in time to receive their adieux. They all left messages for Lady Dominey, spoke of a speedy visit toher, and expressed themselves as delighted to hear of her return andrecovery. As the last car rolled away, Caroline took her host's arm andled him to a chimney seat by the huge log fire in the inner hall. 

"My dear Everard, " she said, "you really are a very terrible person. "

"Exactly why?" he demanded. 

"Your devotion to my sex, " she continued, "is flattering but far toocatholic. Your return to England appears to have done what we understoodto be impossible--restored your wife's reason. A fiery-headed HungarianPrincess has pursued you down here, and has now gone to her room ina tantrum because you left her side for a few minutes to welcome yourwife. And there remains our own sentimental little flirtation, a brokenand, alas, a discarded thing! There is no doubt whatever, Everard, thatyou are a very bad lot. "

"You are distressing me terribly, " Dominey confessed, "but all the same, after a somewhat agitated evening I must admit that I find it pleasantto talk with some one who is not wielding the lightnings. May I have awhisky and soda?"

"Bring me one, too, please, " Caroline begged. "I fear that it willseriously impair the note which I had intended to strike in ourconversation, but I am thirsty. And a handful of those Turkishcigarettes, too. You can devote yourself to me with a perfectly clearconscience. Your most distinguished guest has found a task after his ownheart. He has got Henry in a corner of the billiard-room and istrying to convince him of what I am sure the dear man really believeshimself--that Germany's intentions towards England are of a particularlydove-like nature. Your Right Honourable guest has gone to bed, and EddyPelham is playing billiards with Mr. Mangan. Every one is happy. Youcan devote yourself to soothing my wounded vanity, to say nothing of mybroken heart. "

"Always gibing at me, " Dominey grumbled. 

"Not always, " she answered quietly, raising her eyes for a moment. "There was a time, Everard, before that terrible tragedy--the last timeyou stayed at Dunratter--when I didn't gibe. "

"When, on the contrary, you were sweetness itself, " he reflected. 

She sighed reminiscently. 

"That was a wonderful month, " she murmured. "I think it was then forthe first time that I saw traces of something in you which I supposeaccounts for your being what you are to-day. "

"You think that I have changed, then?"

She looked him in the eyes. 

"I sometimes find it difficult to believe, " she admitted, "that you arethe same man. "

He turned away to reach for his whisky and soda. 

"As a matter of curiosity, " he asked, "why?"

"To begin with, then, " she commented, "you have become almost aprecisian in your speech. You used to be rather slangy at times. "

"What else?"

"You used always to clip your final g's. "

"Shocking habit, " he murmured. "I cured myself of that by reading aloudin the bush. Go on, please?"

"You carry yourself so much more stiffly. Sometimes you have the air ofbeing surprised that you are not in uniform. "

"Trifles, all these things, " he declared. "Now for something serious?"

"The serious things are pretty good, " she admitted. "You used to drinkwhiskys and sodas at all hours of the day, and quite as much wine as wasgood for you at dinner time. Now, although you are a wonderful host, youscarcely take anything yourself. "

"You should see me at the port, " he told her, "when you ladies are wellout of the way! Some more of the good, please?"

"All your best qualities seem to have come to the surface, " she went on, "and I think that the way you have come back and faced it all is simplywonderful. Tell me, if that man's body should be discovered after allthese years, would you be charged with manslaughter?"

He shook his head. "I do not think so, Caroline. "

"Everard. "

"Well?"

"Did you kill Roger Unthank?"

A portion of the burning log fell on to the hearth. Then there wassilence. They heard the click of the billiard balls in the adjoiningroom. Dominey leaned forward and with a pair of small tongs replaced theburning wood upon the fire. Suddenly he felt his hands clasped by hiscompanion's. 

"Everard dear, " she said, "I am so sorry. You came to me a little tiredto-night, didn't you? I think that you needed sympathy, and here I amasking you once more that horrible question. Forget it, please. Talkto me like your old dear self. Tell me about Rosamund's return. Is shereally recovered, do you think?"

"I saw her only for a few minutes, " Dominey replied, "but she seemed tome absolutely better. I must say that the weekly reports I have receivedfrom the nursing home quite prepared me for a great improvement. She isvery frail, and her eyes still have that restless look, but she talksquite coherently. "

"What about that horrible woman?"

"I have pensioned Mrs. Unthank. To my surprise I hear that she is stillliving in the village. "

"And your ghost?"

"Not a single howl all the time that Rosamund has been away. "

"There is one thing more, " Caroline began hesitatingly. 

That one thing lacked forever the clothing of words. There came acurious, almost a dramatic interruption. Through the silence of the hallthere pealed the summons of the great bell which hung over the frontdoor. Dominey glanced at the clock in amazement. 

"Midnight!" he exclaimed. "Who on earth can be coming here at this timeof night!"

Instinctively they both rose to their feet. A manservant had turned thegreat key, drawn the bolts, and opened the door with difficulty. Littleflakes of snow and a gust of icy wind swept into the hall, and followingthem the figure of a man, white from head to foot, his hair tossed withthe wind, almost unrecognisable after his struggle. 

"Why, Doctor Harrison!" Dominey cried, taking a quick step forward. "What brings you here at this time of night!"

The doctor leaned upon his stick for a moment. He was out of breath, andthe melting snow was pouring from his clothes on to the oak floor. Theyrelieved him of his coat and dragged him towards the fire. 

"I must apologise for disturbing you at such an hour, " he said, as hetook the tumbler which Dominey pressed into his hand. "I have only justreceived Lady Dominey's telegram. I had to see you--at once. "

CHAPTER XVIII

The doctor, with his usual bluntness, did not hesitate to make it knownthat this unusual visit was of a private nature. Caroline promptlywithdrew, and the two men were left alone in the great hall. The lightsin the billiard-room and drawing-room were extinguished. Every one inthe house except a few servants had retired. 

"Sir Everard, " the doctor began, "this return of Lady Dominey's hastaken me altogether by surprise. I had intended to-morrow morning todiscuss the situation with you. "

"I am most anxious to hear your report, " Dominey said. 

"My report is good, " was the confident answer. "Although I would nothave allowed her to have left the nursing home so suddenly had I known, there was nothing to keep her there. Lady Dominey, except for onehallucination, is in perfect health, mentally and physically. "

"And this one hallucination?"

"That you are not her husband. "

Dominey was silent for a moment. Then he laughed a little unnaturally. 

"Can a person be perfectly sane, " he asked, "and yet be subject toan hallucination which must make the whole of her surroundings seemunreal?"

"Lady Dominey is perfectly sane, " the doctor answered bluntly, "and asfor that hallucination, it is up to you to dispel it. "

"Perhaps you can give me some advice?" Dominey suggested. 

"I can, and I am going to be perfectly frank with you, " the doctorreplied. "To begin with then, there are certain obvious changes in youwhich might well minister to Lady Dominey's hallucination. For instance, you have been in England now some eight months, during which time youhave reveled an entirely new personality. You seem to have got ridof every one of your bad habits, you drink moderately, as a gentlemanshould, you have subdued your violent temper, and you have collectedaround you, where your personality could be the only inducement, friendsof distinction and interest. This is not at all what one expected fromthe Everard Dominey who scuttled out of England a dozen years ago. "

"You are excusing my wife, " Dominey remarked. 

"She needs no excuses, " was the brusque reply. "She has been along-enduring and faithful woman, suffering from a cruel illness, brought on, to take the kindest view if it, through your clumsiness andlack of discretion. Like all good women, forgiveness is second nature toher. It has now become her wish to take her proper place in life. "

"But if her hallucination continues, " Dominey asked, "if she seriouslydoubts that I am indeed her husband, how can she do that?"

"That is the problem you and I have to face, " the doctor said sternly. "The fact that your wife has been willing to return here to you, whilststill subject to that hallucination, is a view of the matter which Ican neither discuss nor understand. I am here to-night, though, to laya charge upon you. You have to remember that your wife needs still onestep towards a perfect recovery, and until that step has been surmountedyou have a very difficult but imperative task. "

Dominey set his teeth for a moment. He felt the doctor's keen grey eyesglowing from under his shaggy eyebrows as he leaned forward, his handsupon his knees. 

"You mean, " Dominey suggested quietly, "that until that hallucinationhas passed we must remain upon the same terms as we have done since myarrival home. "

"You've got it, " the doctor assented. "It's a tangled-up position, butwe've got to deal with it--or rather you have. I can assure you, " hewent on, "that all her other delusions have gone. She speaks of theghost of Roger Unthank, of the cries in the night, of his mysteriousdeath, as parts of a painful past. She is quite conscious of her severalattempts upon your life and bitterly regrets them. Now we come tothe real danger. She appears to be possessed of a passionate devotiontowards you, whilst still believing that you are not her husband. "

Dominey pushed his chair back from the fire as though he felt the heat. His eyes seemed glued upon the doctor's. 

"I do not pretend, " the latter continued gravely, "to account for that, but it is my duty to warn you, Sir Everard, that that devotion maylead her to great lengths. Lady Dominey is naturally of an exceedinglyaffectionate disposition, and this return to a stronger conditionof physical health and a fuller share of human feelings has probablyreawakened all those tendencies which her growing fondness for you andyour position as her reputed husband make perfectly natural. I warn you, Sir Everard, that you may find your position an exceedingly difficultone, but, difficult though it may be, there is a plain duty before you. Keep and encourage your wife's affection if you can, but let it be acharge upon you that whilst the hallucination remains that affectionmust never pass certain bounds. Lady Dominey is a good and sweet woman. If she woke up one morning with that hallucination still in her mind, and any sense of guilt on her conscience, all our labours for these lastmonths might well be wasted, and she herself might very possibly end herdays in a madhouse. "

"Doctor, " Dominey said firmly. "I appreciate every word you say. You canrely upon me. "

The doctor looked at him. 

"I believe I can, " he admitted, with a sigh of relief. "I am glad ofit. "

"There is just one more phase of the position, " Dominey went on, after apause. "Supposing this hallucination of hers should pass? Supposing sheshould suddenly become convinced that I am her husband?"

"In that case, " the doctor replied earnestly, "the position would beexactly reversed, and it would be just as important for you not to checkthe affection which she might offer to you as it would be in the othercase for you not to accept it. The moment she realises, with her presentpredispositions, that you really are her lawful husband, that momentwill be the beginning of a new life for her. "

Somehow they both seemed to feel that the last words had been spoken. After a brief pause, the doctor helped himself to a farewell drink, filled his pipe and stood up. The car which Dominey had ordered from thegarage was already standing at the door. It was curious how both of themseemed disinclined to refer again even indirectly to the subject whichthey had been discussing. 

"Very good of you to send me back, " the doctor said gruffly. "I startedout all right, but it was a drear walk across the marshes. "

"I am very grateful to you for coming, " Dominey replied, with obvioussincerity. "You will come and have a look at the patient in a day ortwo?"

"I'll stroll across as soon as you've got rid of some of this houseful, "the doctor promised. "Good night!"

The two men parted, and curiously enough Dominey was conscious thatwith those few awkward words of farewell some part of the incipientantagonism between them had been buried. Left to himself, he wanderedfor some moments up and down the great, dimly lit hall. A strangerestlessness seemed to have fastened itself upon him. He stood for atime by the dying fire, watching the grey ashes, stirred uneasily by thewind which howled down the chimney. Then he strolled to a differentpart of the hall, and one by one he turned on, by means of the electricswitches, the newly installed lights which hung above the sombre oilpictures upon the wall. He looked into the faces of some of these deadDomineys, trying to recall what he had heard of their history, anddwelling longest upon a gallant of the Stuart epoch, whose misdeeds hadsupplied material for every intimate chronicler of those days. When atlast the sight of a sleepy manservant hovering in the background forcedhis steps upstairs, he still lingered for a few moments in the corridorand turned the handle of his bedroom door with almost reluctant fingers. His heart gave a great jump as he realised that there was some onethere. He stood for a moment upon the threshold, then laughed shortly tohimself at his foolish imagining. It was his servant who was patientlyawaiting his arrival. 

"You can go to bed, Dickens, " he directed. "I shall not want you againto-night. We shoot in the morning. "

The man silently took his leave, and Dominey commenced his preparationsfor bed. He was in no humour for sleep, however, and, still attired inhis shirt and trousers, he wrapped a dressing-gown around him, drew areading lamp to his side, and threw himself into an easy-chair, a bookin his hand. It was some time before he realised that the volume wasupside down, and even when he had righted it, the words he saw had nomeaning for him. All the time a queer procession of women's faces waspassing before his eyes--Caroline, with her half-flirtatious, whollysentimental _bon camaraderie_; Stephanie, with her voluptuous figureand passion-lit eyes; and then, blotting the others utterly out of histhoughts and memory, Rosamund, with all the sweetness of life shiningout of her eager face. He saw her as she had come to him last, with thatlittle unspoken cry upon her tremulous lips, and the haunting appeal inher soft eyes. All other memories faded away. They were as though theyhad never been. Those dreary years of exile in Africa, the day by daytension of his precarious life, were absolutely forgotten. His heart wascalling all the time for an unknown boon. He felt himself immeshed in aworld of cobwebs, of weakness more potent than all his boasted strength. Then he suddenly felt that the madness which he had begun to fear hadreally come. It was the thing for which he longed yet dreaded most--thefaint click, the soft withdrawal of the panel, actually pushed back by apair of white hands. Rosamund herself was there. Her eyes shone at him, mystically, wonderfully. Her lips were parted in a delightful smile, asmile in which there was a spice of girlish mischief. She turned fora moment to close the panel. Then she came towards him with her fingerupraised. 

"I cannot sleep, " she said softly. "Do you mind my coming for a fewminutes?"

"Of course not, " he answered. "Come and sit down. "

She curled up in his easy-chair. 

"Just for a moment, " she murmured contentedly. "Give me your hands, dear. But how cold! You must come nearer to the fire yourself. "

He sat on the arm of her chair, and she stroked his head with her hands. 

"You were not afraid, then?" she asked, "when you saw me come throughthe panel?"

"I should never be afraid of any harm that you might bring me, dear, " heassured her. 

"Because all that foolishness is really gone, " she continued eagerly. "I know that whatever happened to poor Roger, it was not you who killedhim. Even if I heard his ghost calling again to-night, I should have nofear. I can't think why I ever wanted to hurt you, Everard. I am surethat I always loved you. "

His arm went very softly around her. She responded to his embracewithout hesitation. Her cheek rested upon his shoulder, he felt thewarmth of her arm through her white, fur-lined dressing-gown. 

"Why do you doubt any longer then, " he asked hoarsely, "that I am yourhusband?"

She sighed. 

"Ah, but I know you are not, " she answered. "Is it wrong of me to feelwhat I do for you, I wonder? You are so like yet so unlike him. He isdead. He died in Africa. Isn't it strange that I should know it? But Ido!"

"But who am I then?" he whispered. 

She looked at him pitifully. 

"I do not know, " she confessed, "but you are kind to me, and when I feelyou are near I am happy. It is because I wanted to see you that I wouldnot stay any longer at the nursing home. That must mean that I am veryfond of you. "

"You are not afraid, " he asked, "to be here alone with me?"

She put her other arm around his neck and drew his face down. 

"I am not afraid, " she assured him. "I am happy. But, dear, what is thematter? A moment ago you were cold. Now your head is wet, your hands areburning. Are you not happy because I am here?"

Her lips were seeking his. His own touched them for a moment. Then hekissed her on both cheeks. She made a little grimace. 

"I am afraid, " she said, "that you are not really fond of me. "

"Can't you believe, " he asked hoarsely, "that I am really Everard--yourhusband? Look at me. Can't you feel that you have loved me before?"

She shook her head a little sadly. 

"No, you are not Everard, " she sighed; "but, " she added, her eyeslighting up, "you bring me love and happiness and life, and--"

A few seconds before, Dominey felt from his soul that he would havewelcomed an earthquake, a thunderbolt, the crumbling of the floorbeneath his feet to have been spared the torture of her sweetimportunities. Yet nothing so horrible as this interruption which reallycame could ever have presented itself before his mind. Half in his arms, with her head thrown back, listening--he, too, horrified, convulsed fora moment even with real physical fear--they heard the silence of thenight broken by that one awful cry, the cry of a man's soul in torment, imprisoned in the jaws of a beast. They listened to it together untilits echoes died away. Then what was, perhaps, the most astonishing thingof all, she nodded her head slowly, unperturbed, unterrified. 

"You see, " she said, "I must go back. He will not let me stay here. He must think that you are Everard. It is only I who know that you arenot. "

She slipped from the chair, kissed him, and, walking quite firmly acrossthe floor, touched the spring and passed through the panel. Even thenshe turned around and waved a little good-bye to him. There was no signof fear in her face; only a little dumb disappointment. The panel glidedto and shut out the vision of her. Dominey held his head like a man whofears madness. 

CHAPTER XIX

Dawn the next morning was heralded by only a thin line of red partingthe masses of black-grey snow clouds which still hung low down in theeast. The wind had dropped, and there was something ghostly about thestill twilight as Dominey issued from the back regions and made his waythrough the untrodden snow round to the side of the house underneathRosamund's window. A little exclamation broke from his lips as he stoodthere. From the terraced walks, down the steps, and straight across thepark to the corner of the Black Wood, were fresh tracks. The cry hadbeen no fantasy. Somebody or something had passed from the Black Woodand back again to this spot in the night. 

Dominey, curiously excited by his discovery, examined the footmarkseagerly, then followed them to the corner of the wood. Here and therethey puzzled him. They were neither like human footsteps nor the trackof any known animal. At the edge of the wood they seemed to vanish intothe heart of a great mass of brambles, from which here and there thesnow had been shaken off. There was no sign of any pathway; if everthere had been one, the neglect of years had obliterated it. Bracken, brambles, shrubs and bushes had grown up and degenerated, only to besucceeded by a ranker and more dense form of undergrowth. Many of thetrees, although they were still plentiful, had been blown down and leftto rot on the ground. The place was silent except for the slow drip offalling snow from the drooping leaves. He took one more cautious stepforward and found himself slowly sinking. Black mud was oozing upthrough the snow where he had set his feet. He was just able to scrambleback. Picking his way with great caution, he commenced a leisurelyperambulation of the whole of the outside of the wood. 

Heggs, the junior keeper, an hour or so later, went over the gun rackonce more, tapped the empty cases, and turned towards Middleton, who wassitting in a chair before the fire, smoking his pipe. 

"I can't find master's number two gun, Mr. Middleton, " he announced. "That's missing. "

"Look again, lad, " the old keeper directed, removing the pipe from hismouth. "The master was shooting with it yesterday. Look amongst thoseloose 'uns at the far end of the rack. It must be somewhere there. "

"Well, that isn't, " the young man replied obstinately. 

The door of the room was suddenly opened, and Dominey entered with themissing gun under his arm. Middleton rose to his feet at once and laiddown his pipe. Surprise kept him temporarily silent. 

"I want you to come this way with me for a moment, " his master ordered. 

The keeper took up his hat and stick and followed. Dominey led him towhere the tracks had halted on the gravel outside Rosamund's window andpointed across to the Black Wood. 

"What do you make of those?" he enquired. 

Middleton did not hesitate. He shook his head gravely. 

"Was anything heard last night, sir?"

"There was an infernal yell underneath this window. "

"That was the spirit of Roger Unthank, for sure, " Middleton pronounced, with a little shudder. "When he do come out of that wood, he do call. "

"Spirits, " his master pointed out, "do not leave tracks like thatbehind. "

Middleton considered the matter. 

"They do say hereabout, " he confided, "that the spirit of Roger Unthankhave been taken possession of by some sort of great animal, and that itdo come here now and then to be fed. "

"By whom?" Dominey enquired patiently. 

"Why, by Mrs. Unthank. "

"Mrs. Unthank has not been in this house for many months. From the dayshe left until last night, so far as I can gather, nothing has beenheard of this ghost, or beast, or whatever it is. "

"That do seem queer, surely, " Middleton admitted. 

Dominey followed the tracks with his eyes to the wood and back again. 

"Middleton, " he said, "I am learning something about spirits. It seemsthat they not only make tracks, but they require feeding. Perhaps ifthat is so they can feel a charge of shot inside them. "

The old man seemed for a moment to stiffen with slow horror. 

"You wouldn't shoot at it, Squire?" he gasped. 

"I should have done so this morning if I had had a chance, " Domineyreplied. "When the weather is a little drier, I am going to make my wayinto that wood, Middleton, with a rifle under my arm. "

"Then as God's above, you'll never come out, Squire!" was the solemnreply. 

"We will see, " Dominey muttered. "I have hacked my way through somequeer country in Africa. "

"There's nowt like this wood in the world, sir, " the old man asserteddoggedly. "The bottom's rotten from end to end and the top's allpoisonous. The birds die there on the trees. It's chockful of reptilesand unclean things, with green and purple fungi, two feet high, withpoison in the very sniff of them. The man who enters that wood goes tohis grave. "

"Nevertheless, " Dominey said firmly, "within a very short time I amgoing to solve the mystery of this nocturnal visitor. "

They returned to the house, side by side. Just before they entered, Dominey turned to his companion. 

"Middleton, " he said, "you keep up the good old customs, I suppose, andspend half an hour at the 'Dominey Arms' now and then?"

"Most every night of my life, sir, " the old man replied, "from eighttill nine. I'm a man of regular habits, and that do seem right tome that with the work done right and proper a man should have hisrelaxation. "

"That is right, John, " Dominey assented. "Next time you are there, don'tforget to mention that I am going to have that wood looked through. Ishould like it to get about, you understand?"

"That'll fair flummox the folk, " was the doubtful reply, "but I'll let'em know, Squire. There'll be a rare bit of talk, I can promise youthat. "

Dominey handed over his gun, went to his room, bathed and changed, anddescended for breakfast. There was a sudden hush as he entered, which hevery well understood. Every one began to talk about the prospect ofthe day's sport. Dominey helped himself from the sideboard and took hisplace at the table. 

"I hope, " he said, "that our very latest thing in ghosts did not disturbanybody. "

"We all seem to have heard the same thing, " the Cabinet Ministerobserved, with interest, --"a most appalling and unearthly cry. I havelately joined every society connected with spooks and find them afascinating study. "

"If you want to investigate, " Dominey observed, as he helped himself tocoffee, "you can bring out a revolver and prowl about with me one night. From the time when I was a kid, before I went to Eton, up till whenI left here for Africa, we had a series of highly respectable andwell-behaved ghosts, who were a credit to the family and of whom we weresomewhat proud. This latest spook, however, is something quite outsidethe pale. "

"Has he a history?" Mr. Watson asked with interest. 

"I am informed, " Dominey replied, "that he is the spirit of aschoolmaster who once lived here, and for whose departure from the worldI am supposed to be responsible. Such a spook is neither a credit nor acomfort to the family. "

Their host spoke with such an absolute absence of emotion that every onewas conscious of a curious reluctance to abandon a subject full of suchfascinating possibilities. Terniloff was the only one, however, who madea suggestion. 

"We might have a battue in the wood, " he proposed. 

"I am not sure, " Dominey told them, "that the character of the wood isnot more interesting than the ghost who is supposed to dwell in it. Youremember how terrified the beaters were yesterday at the bare suggestionof entering it? For generations it has been held unclean. It iscertainly most unsafe. I went in over my knees on the outskirts of itthis morning. Shall we say half-past ten in the gun room?"

Seaman followed his host out of the room. 

"My friend, " he said, "you must not allow these local circumstances tooccupy too large a share of your thoughts. It is true that these are thedays of your relaxation. Still, there is the Princess for you to thinkof. After all, she has us in her power. The merest whisper in DowningStreet, and behold, catastrophe!"

Dominey took his friend's arm. 

"Look here, Seaman, " he rejoined, "it's easy enough to say there is thePrincess to be considered, but will you kindly tell me what on earthmore I can do to make her see the position? Necessity demands that Ishould be on the best of terms with Lady Dominey and I should not makemyself in any way conspicuous with the Princess. "

"I am not sure, " Seaman reflected, "that the terms you are on with LadyDominey matter very much to any one. So far as regards the Princess, sheis an impulsive and passionate person, but she is also _grande dame_ anda diplomatist. I see no reason why you should not marry her secretly inLondon, in the name of Everard Dominey, and have the ceremony repeatedunder your rightful name later on. "

They had paused to help themselves to cigarettes, which were displayedwith a cabinet of cigars on a round table in the hall. Dominey waitedfor a moment before he answered. 

"Has the Princess confided to you that that is her wish?" he asked. 

"Something of the sort, " Seaman acknowledged. "She wishes thesuggestion, however, to come from you. "

"And your advice?"

Seaman blew out a little cloud of cigar smoke. 

"My friend, " he confessed, "I am a little afraid of the Princess. I askyou no questions as to your own feelings with regard to her. I take itfor granted that as a man of honour it will be your duty to offer heryour hand in marriage, sooner or later. I see no harm in anticipating afew months, if by that means we can pacify her. Terniloff would arrangeit at the Embassy. He is devoted to her, and it will strengthen yourposition with him. "

Dominey turned away towards the stairs. 

"We will discuss this again before we leave, " he said gloomily. 

Dominey was admitted at once by her maid into his wife's sitting-room. Rosamund, in a charming morning robe of pale blue lined with greyfur, had just finished breakfast. She held out her hands to him with adelighted little cry of welcome. 

"How nice of you to come, Everard!" she exclaimed. "I was hoping Ishould see you for a moment before you went off. "

He raised her fingers to his lips and sat down by her side. She seemedentirely delighted by his presence, and he felt instinctively that shewas quite unaffected by the event of the night before. 

"You slept well?" he enquired. 

"Perfectly, " she answered. 

He tackled the subject bravely, as he had made up his mind to on everyopportunity. 

"You do not lie awake thinking of our nocturnal visitor, then?"

"Not for one moment. You see, " she went on conversationally, "if youwere really Everard, then I might be frightened, for some day or other Ifeel that if Everard comes here, the spirit of Roger Unthank will do himsome sort of mischief. "

"Why?" he asked. 

"You don't know about these things, of course, " she went on, "but RogerUnthank was in love with me, although I had scarcely ever spoken to him, before I married Everard. I think I told you that much yesterday, didn'tI? After I was married, the poor man nearly went out of his mind. Hegave up his work and used to haunt the park here. One evening Everardcaught him and they fought, and Roger Unthank was never seen again. Ithink that any one around here would tell you, " she went on, droppingher voice a little, "that Everard killed Roger and threw him into oneof those swampy places near the Black Wood, where a body sinks and sinksand nothing is ever seen of it again. "

"I do not believe he did anything of the sort, " Dominey declared. 

"Oh, I don't know, " she replied doubtfully. "Everard had a terribletemper, and that night he came home covered with blood, looking--awful!It was the night when I was taken ill. "

"Well no more tragedies, " he insisted. "I have come up to remind youthat we have guests here. When are you coming down to see them?"

She laughed like a child. 

"You say 'we' just as though you were really my husband, " she declared. 

"You must not tell any one else of your fancy, " he warned her. 

She acquiesced at once. 

"Oh, I quite understand, " she assured him. "I shall be very, verycareful. And, Everard, you have such clever guests, not at all the sortof people my Everard would have had here, and I have been out of theworld for so long, that I am afraid I sha'n't be able to talk to them. Nurse Alice is tremendously impressed. I am sure I should be terrifiedto sit at the end of the table, and Caroline will hate not being hostessany longer. Let me come down at tea-time and after dinner, and slip intothings gradually. You can easily say that I am still an invalid, thoughof course I'm not at all. "

"You shall do exactly as you choose, " he promised, as he took his leave. 

So when the shooting party tramped into the hall that afternoon, alittle weary, but flushed with exercise and the pleasure of the day'ssport, they found, seated in a corner of the room, behind thegreat round table upon which tea was set out, a rather pale butextraordinarily childlike and fascinating woman, with large, sweet eyeswhich seemed to be begging for their protection and sympathy as she rosehesitatingly to her feet. Dominey was by her side in a moment, and hisfirst few words of introduction brought every one around her. She saidvery little, but what she said was delightfully natural and gracious. 

"It has been so kind of you, " she said to Caroline, "to help my husbandentertain his guests. I am very much better, but I have been ill for solong that I have forgotten a great many things, and I should be a verypoor hostess. But I want to make tea for you, please, and I want you allto tell me how many pheasants you have shot. "

Terniloff seated himself on the settee by her side. 

"I am going to help you in this complicated task, " he declared. "I amsure those sugar tongs are too heavy for you to wield alone. "

She laughed at him gaily. 

"But I am not really delicate at all, " she assured him. "I have had avery bad illness, but I am quite strong again. "

"Then I will find some other excuse for sitting here, " he said. "I willtell you all about the high pheasants your husband killed, and about thewoodcock he brought down after we had all missed it. "

"I shall love to hear about that, " she assented. "How much sugar, please, and will you pass those hot muffins to the Princess? And pleasetouch that bell. I shall want more hot water. I expect you are all verythirsty. I am so glad to be here with you. "

CHAPTER XX

Arm in arm, Prince Terniloff and his host climbed the snow-coveredslope at the back of a long fir plantation, towards the little beflaggedsticks which indicated their stand. There was not a human being insight, for the rest of the guns had chosen a steeper but somewhat lesscircuitous route. 

"Von Ragastein, " the Ambassador said, "I am going to give myself theluxury of calling you by your name. You know my one weakness, a weaknesswhich in my younger days very nearly drove me out of diplomacy. I detestespionage in every shape and form even where it is necessary. So far asyou are concerned, my young friend, " he went on, "I think your positionridiculous. I have sent a private despatch to Potsdam, in which I haveexpressed that opinion. "

"So far, " Dominey remarked, "I have not been overworked. "

"My dear young friend, " the Prince continued, "you have not beenoverworked because there has been no legitimate work for you to do. There will be none. There could be no possible advantage accruingfrom your labours here to compensate for the very bad effect whichthe discovery of your true name and position would have in the EnglishCabinet. "

"I must ask you to remember, " Dominey begged, "that I am here as a blindservant of the Fatherland. I simply obey orders. "

"I will grant that freely, " the Prince consented. "But to continue. Iam now at the end of my first year in this country. I feel able tocongratulate myself upon a certain measure of success. From that partof the Cabinet with whom I have had to do, I have received nothing butencouragement in my efforts to promote a better understanding betweenour two countries. "

"The sky certainly seems clear enough just now, " agreed Dominey. 

"I have convinced myself, " the Prince said emphatically, "that there isa genuine and solid desire for peace with Germany existing in DowningStreet. In every argument I have had, in every concession I haveasked for, I have been met with a sincere desire to foster the growingfriendship between our countries. I am proud of my work here, VonRagastein. I believe that I have brought Germany and England nearertogether than they have been since the days of the Boer War. "

"You are sure, sir, " Dominey asked, "that you are not confusing personalpopularity with national sentiment?"

"I am sure of it, " the Ambassador answered gravely. "Such popularityas I may have achieved here has been due to an appreciation of themore healthy state of world politics now existing. It has been my greatpleasure to trace the result of my work in a manuscript of memoirs, which some day, when peace is firmly established between our twocountries, I shall cause to be published. I have put on record thereevidences of the really genuine sentiment in favour of peace which Ihave found amongst the present Cabinet. "

"I should esteem it an immense privilege, " Dominey said, "to be given aprivate reading of these memoirs. "

"That may be arranged, " was the suave reply. "In the meantime, VonRagastein, I want you to reconsider your position here. "

"My position is not voluntary, " Dominey repeated. "I am acting underorders. "

"Precisely, " the other acquiesced, "but matters have changed verymuch during the last six months. Even at the risk of offending France, England is showing wonderful pliability with regard to our claims inMorocco. Every prospect of disagreement between our two countries uponany vital matter has now disappeared. "

"Unless, " Dominey said thoughtfully, "the desire for war should come, not from Downing Street but from Potsdam. "

"We serve an honourable master, " Terniloff declared sternly, "and he hasshown me his mind. His will is for peace, and for the great triumphsto which our country is already entitled by reason of her supremacy inindustry, in commerce, in character and in genius. These are the weaponswhich will make Germany the greatest Power in the world. No empire hasever hewn its way to permanent glory by the sword alone. We have reachedour stations, I see. Come to me after this drive is finished, my host. All that I have said so far has been by way of prelude. "

The weather had turned drier, the snow was crisp, and a little party ofwomen from the Hall reached the guns before the beaters were through thewood. Caroline and Stephanie both took their places by Dominey's side. The former, however, after a few minutes passed on to Terniloff's stand. Stephanie and Dominey were alone for the first time since their stormyinterview in the library. 

"Has Maurice been talking to you?" she asked a little abruptly. 

"His Excellency and I are, to tell you the truth, " Dominey confessed, "in the midst of a most interesting conversation. "

"Has he spoken to you about me?"

"Your name has not yet been mentioned. "

She made a little grimace. In her wonderful furs and Russian turban hatshe made a rather striking picture against the background of snow. 

"An interesting conversation in which my name has not been mentioned!"she repeated satirically. 

"I think you were coming into it before very long, " Dominey assured her. "His Excellency warned me that all he had said so far was merely theprelude to a matter of larger importance. "

Stephanie smiled. 

"Dear Maurice is so diplomatic, " she murmured. "I am perfectly certainhe is going to begin by remonstrating you for your shocking treatment ofme. "

Their conversation was interrupted for a few minutes by the sport. Dominey called the faithful Middleton to his side for a further supplyof cartridges. Stephanie bided her time, which came when the beaters atlast emerged from the wood. 

"Shocking, " Stephanie repeated reverting to their conversation, "is themildest word in my vocabulary which I can apply to your treatment of me. Honestly, Leopold, I feel bruised all over inside. My pride is humbled. "

"It is because you look at the matter only from a feminine point ofview, " Dominey persisted. 

"And you, " she answered in a low tone, "once the fondest and the mostpassionate of lovers, only from a political one. You think a great dealof your country, Leopold. Have I no claims upon you?"

"Upon Everard Dominey, none, " he insisted. "When the time comes, andLeopold Von Ragastein can claim all that is his right, believe me, youwill have no cause to complain of coldness or dilatoriness. He will haveonly one thought, only one hope--to end the torture of these years ofseparation as speedily as may be. "

The strained look passed from her face. Her tone became more natural. 

"But, dear, " she pleaded, "there is no need to wait. Your Sovereigngives you permission. Your political chief will more than endorse it. "

"I am on the spot, " Dominey replied, "and believe me I know what issafest and best. I cannot live as two men and keep my face steadfast tothe world. The Prince, however, has not spoken to me yet. I will hearwhat he has to say. "

Stephanie turned a little haughtily away. 

"You are putting me in the position of a supplicant!" she exclaimed. "To-night we must have an understanding. "

The little party moved on all together to another cover. Rosamund hadjoined them and hung on to Dominey's arm with delight. The brisk walkacross the park had brought colour to her cheeks. She walked with allthe free and vigorous grace of a healthy woman. Dominey found himselfwatching her, as she deserted him a little later on to stand byTerniloff's side, with a little thrill of tangled emotions. He felt atouch on his arm. Stephanie, who was passing with another of the guns, paused to whisper in his ear:

"There might be a greater danger--one that has evaded even your cautiousmind--in overplaying your part!"

Dominey was taken possession of by Caroline on their walk to the nextstand. She planted herself on a shooting stick by his side and commencedto take him roundly to task. 

"My dear Everard, " she said, "you are one of the most wonderful examplesof the reformed rake I ever met! You have even acquired respectability. For heaven's sake, don't disappoint us all!"

"I seem to be rather good at that, " Dominey observed a little drearily. 

"Well, you are the master of your own actions, are you not?" she asked. "What I want to say in plain words is, don't go and make a fool ofyourself with Stephanie. "

"I have not the least intention of doing anything of the sort. "

"Well, she has! Mark my words, Everard, I know that woman. She is cleverand brilliant and anything else you like, but for some reason or othershe has set her mind upon you. She looks at dear little Rosamund asthough she hadn't a right to exist. Don't look so sorry for yourself. You must have encouraged her. "

Dominey was silent. Fortunately, the exigencies of the next few minutesdemanded it. His cousin waited patiently until there came a pause in theshooting. 

"Now let me hear what you have to say for yourself, sir? So far as I cansee, you've been quite sweet to your wife, and she adores you. If youwant to have an affair with the Princess, don't begin it here. You'llhave your wife ill again if you make her jealous. "

"My dear Caroline, there will be no affair between Stephanie and me. Ofthat you may rest assured. "

"You mean to say that this is altogether on her side, then?" Carolinepersisted. 

"You exaggerate her demeanour, " he replied, "but even if what yousuggest were true--"

"Oh, I don't want a lot of protestations!" she interrupted. "I am notsaying that you encourage her much, because I don't believe you do. AllI want to point out is that, having really brought your wife back almostto health, you must be extraordinarily and wonderfully careful. If youwant to talk nonsense with Stephanie, do it in Belgrave Square. "

Dominey was watching the gyrations of a falling pheasant. His left handwas stretched out towards the cartridge bag which Caroline was holding. He clasped her fingers for a moment before he helped himself. 

"You are rather a dear, " he said. "I would not do anything to hurtRosamund for the world. "

"If you can't get rid of your old tricks altogether and must flirt, " sheremarked, "well, I'm always somewhere about. Rosamund wouldn't mind me, because there are a few grey hairs in my sandy ones. --And here comesyour man across the park--looks as though he had a message for you. Solong as nothing has happened to your cook, I feel that I could face illtidings with composure. "

Dominey found himself watching with fixed eyes the approach of hisrather sad-faced manservant through the snow. Parkins was not dressedfor such an enterprise, nor did he seem in any way to relish it. His wasthe stern march of duty, and, curiously enough, Dominey felt from themoment he caught sight of him that he was in some respects a messengerof Fate. Yet the message which he delivered, when at last he reached hismaster's side, was in no way alarming. 

"A person of the name of Miller has arrived here, sir, " he announced, "from Norwich. He is, I understand, a foreigner of some sort, whohas recently landed in this country. I found it a little difficult tounderstand him, but her Highness's maid conversed with him in German, and I understand that he either is or brings you a message from acertain Doctor Schmidt, with whom you were acquainted in Africa. "

The warning whistle blew at that moment, and Dominey swung round andstood at attention. His behaviour was perfectly normal. He let a henpheasant pass over his head, and brought down a cock from very nearlythe limit distance. He reloaded before he turned to Parkins. 

"Is this person in a hurry?" he said. 

"By no means, sir, " the man replied. "I told him that you would not beback until three or four o'clock, and he is quite content to wait. "

Dominey nodded. 

"Look after him yourself then, Parkins, " he directed. "We shall not beshooting late to-day. Very likely I will send Mr. Seaman back to talk tohim. "

The man raised his hat respectfully and turned back towards the house. Caroline was watching her companion curiously. 

"Do you find many of your acquaintances in Africa look you up, Everard?"she asked. 

"Except for Seaman, " Dominey replied, looking through the barrels of hisgun, "who really does not count because we crossed together, this is myfirst visitor from the land of fortune. I expect there will be plenty ofthem by and by, though. Colonials have a wonderful habit of sticking toone another. "

CHAPTER XXI

There was nothing in the least alarming about the appearance of Mr. Ludwig Miller. He had been exceedingly well entertained in the butler'sprivate sitting-room and had the air of having done full justice to thehospitality which had been offered him. He rose to his feet at Dominey'sentrance and stood at attention. But for some slight indications ofmilitary training, he would have passed anywhere as a highly respectableretired tradesman. 

"Sir Everard Dominey?" he enquired. 

Dominey nodded assent. "That is my name. Have I seen you before?"

The man shook his head. "I am a cousin of Doctor Schmidt. I arrived inthe Colony from Rhodesia, after your Excellency had left. "

"And how is the doctor?"

"My cousin is, as always, busy but in excellent health, " was the reply. "He sends his respectful compliments and his good wishes. Also thisletter. "

With a little flourish the man produced an envelope inscribed:

To Sir Everard Dominey, Baronet, Dominey Hall, In the County of Norfolk, England. 

Dominey broke the seal just as Seaman entered. 

"A messenger here from Doctor Schmidt, an acquaintance of mine in EastAfrica, " he announced. "Mr. Seaman came home from South Africa with me, "he explained to his visitor. 

The two men looked steadily into each other's eyes. Dominey watchedthem, fascinated. Neither betrayed himself by even the fall of aneyelid. Yet Dominey, his perceptive powers at their very keenest in thismoment which instinct told him was one of crisis, felt the unspoken, unbetokened recognition which passed between them. Some commonplaceremark was uttered and responded to. Dominey read the few lines whichseemed to take him back for a moment to another world:

"Honoured and Honourable Sir, "I send you my heartiest and most respectful greeting. Of the progressof all matters here you will learn from another source. 

"I recommend to your notice and kindness my cousin, the bearer of thisletter--Mr. Ludwig Miller. He will lay before you certain circumstancesof which it is advisable for you to have knowledge. You may speak freelywith him. He is in all respects to be trusted. 

"KARL SCHMIDT. " (Signed)

"Your cousin is a little mysterious, " Dominey remarked, as he passed theletter to Seaman. "Come, what about these circumstances?"

Ludwig Miller looked around the little room and then at Seaman. Domineyaffected to misunderstand his hesitation. 

"Our friend here knows everything, " he declared. "You can speak to himas to myself. "

The man began as one who has a story to tell. 

"My errand here is to warn you, " he said, "that the Englishman whomyou left for dead at Big Bend, on the banks of the Blue River, has beenheard of in another part of Africa. "

Dominey shook his head incredulously. "I hope you have not come all thisway to tell me that! The man was dead. "

"My cousin himself, " Miller continued, "was hard to convince. The manleft his encampment with whisky enough to kill him, thirst enough todrink it all, and no food. "

"So I found him, " Dominey assented, "deserted by his boys and raving. Tosilence him forever was a child's task. "

"The task, however, was unperformed, " the other persisted. "From threeplaces in the colony he has been heard of, struggling to make his way tothe coast. "

"Does he call himself by his own name?" Dominey asked. 

"He does not, " Miller admitted. "My cousin, however, desired me to pointout to you the fact that in any case he would probably be shy of doingso. He is behaving in an absurd manner; he is in a very weakly state;and without a doubt he is to some degree insane. Nevertheless, the factremains that he is in the Colony, or was three months ago, and that ifhe succeeds in reaching the coast you may at any time be surprised bya visit from him here. I am sent to warn you in order that you may takewhatever steps may be necessary and not be placed at a disadvantage ifhe should appear. "

"This is queer news you have brought us, Miller, " Seaman saidthoughtfully. 

"It is news which greatly disturbed Doctor Schmidt, " the man replied. "He has had the natives up one after another for cross-examination. Nothing can shake their story. "

"If we believed it, " Seaman continued, "this other European, if he hadbusiness in this direction, might walk in here at any moment. "

"It was to warn you of that possibility that I am here. "

"How much do you know personally, " Seaman asked, "of the existentcircumstances?"

The man shook his head vaguely. 

"I know nothing, " he admitted. "I went out to East Africa some yearsago, and I have been a trader in Mozambique in a small way. I suppliedoutfits for officers and hospitals and sportsmen. Now and then I haveto return to Europe to buy fresh stock. Doctor Schmidt knew that, and hecame to see me just before I sailed. He first thought of writing a verylong letter. Afterwards he changed his mind. He wrote only these fewlines I brought, but he told me those other things. "

"You have remembered all that he told you?" Dominey asked. 

"I can think of nothing else, " was the reply, after a moment's pause. "The whole affair has been a great worry to Doctor Schmidt. There arethings connected with it which he has never understood, things connectedwith it which he has always found mysterious. "

"Hence your presence here, Johann Wolff?" Seaman asked, in an alteredtone. 

The visitor's expression remained unchanged except for the faintsurprise which shone out of his blue eyes. 

"Johann Wolff, " he repeated. "That is not my name. I am Ludwig Miller, and I know nothing of this matter beyond what I have told you. I am justa messenger. "

"Once in Vienna and twice in Cracow, my friend, we have met, " Seamanreminded him softly but very insistently. 

The other shook his head gently. "A mistake. I have been in Vienna oncemany years ago, but Cracow never. "

"You have no idea with whom you are talking?"

"Herr Seaman was the name, I understood. "

"It is a very good name, " Seaman scoffed. "Look here and think. "

He undid his coat and waistcoat and displayed a plain vest of chamoisleather. Attached to the left-hand side of it was a bronze decoration, with lettering and a number. Miller stared at it blankly and shook hishead. 

"Information Department, Bureau Twelve, password--'The Day is coming, '"Seaman continued, dropping his voice. 

His listener shook his head and smiled with the puzzled ignorance of achild. 

"The gentleman mistakes me for some one else, " he replied. "I knownothing of these things. "

Seaman sat and studied this obstinate visitor for several minuteswithout speaking, his finger tips pressed together, his eyebrows gentlycontracted. His vis-a-vis endured this scrutiny without flinching, calm, phlegmatic, the very prototype of the bourgeois German of the tradesmanclass. 

"Do you propose, " Dominey enquired, "to stay in these parts long?"

"One or two days--a week, perhaps, " was the indifferent answer. "I havea cousin in Norwich who makes toys. I love the English country. I spendmy holiday here, perhaps. "

"Just so, " Seaman muttered grimly. "The English country under a foot ofsnow! So you have nothing more to say to me, Johann Wolff?"

"I have executed my mission to his Excellency, " was the apologeticreply. "I am sorry to have caused displeasure to you, Herr Seaman. "

The latter rose to his feet. Dominey had already turned towards thedoor. 

"You will spend the night here, of course, Mr. Miller?" he invited. "I dare say Mr. Seaman would like to have another talk with you in themorning. "

"I shall gladly spend the night here, your Excellency, " was the politereply. "I do not think that I have anything to say, however, which wouldinterest your friend. "

"You are making a great mistake, Wolff, " Seaman declared angrily. "Iam your superior in the Service, and your attitude towards me isindefensible. "

"If the gentleman would only believe, " the culprit begged, "that he ismistaking me for some one else!"

There was trouble in Seaman's face as the two men made their way tothe front of the house and trouble in his tone as he answered hiscompanion's query. 

"What do you think of that fellow and his visit?"

"I do not know what to think, but there is a great deal that Iknow, " Seaman replied gravely. "The man is a spy, a favourite in theWilhelmstrasse and only made use of on important occasions. His name isWolff--Johann Wolff. "

"And this story of his?"

"You ought to be the best judge of that. "

"I am, " Dominey assented confidently. "Without the shadow of a doubt Ithrew the body of the man I killed into the Blue River and watched itsink. "

"Then the story is a fake, " Seaman decided. "For some reason or other wehave come under the suspicion of our own secret service. "

Seaman, as they emerged into the hall, was summoned imperiously to herside by the Princess Eiderstrom. Dominey disappeared for a momentand returned presently, having discarded some of his soaked shootinggarments. He was followed by his valet, bearing a note upon a silvertray. 

"From the person in Mr. Parkins' room--to Mr. Seaman, sir, " the manannounced, in a low tone. 

Dominey took it from the salver with a little nod. Then he turned towhere the youngest and most frivolous of his guests were in the act ofrising from the tea table. 

"A game of pills, Eddy, " he proposed. "They tell me that pool is one ofyour greatest accomplishments. "

"I'm pretty useful, " the young man confessed, with a satisfied chuckle. "Give you a black at snooker, what?"

Dominey took his arm and led him into the billiard-room. 

"You will give me nothing, young fellow, " he replied. "Set them up, andI will show you how I made a living for two months at Johannesberg!"

CHAPTER XXII

The evening at Dominey hall was practically a repetition of the previousone, with a different set of guests from the outer world. After dinner, Dominey was absent for a few minutes and returned with Rosamund upon hisarm. She received the congratulations of her neighbours charmingly, anda little court soon gathered around her. Doctor Harrison, who had beendining, remained upon the outskirts, listening to her light-heartedand at times almost brilliant chatter with grave and watchful interest. Dominey, satisfied that she was being entertained, obeyed Terniloff'sgestured behest and strolled with him to a distant corner of the hall. 

"Let me now, my dear host, " the Prince began, with some eagerness inhis tone, "continue and, I trust, conclude the conversation to which allthat I said this morning was merely the prelude. "

"I am entirely at your service, " murmured his host. 

"I have tried to make you understand that from my own point of view--andI am in a position to know something--the fear of war between thiscountry and our own has passed. England is willing to make allreasonable sacrifices to ensure peace. She wants peace, she intendspeace, therefore there will be peace. Therefore, I maintain, my youngfriend, it is far better for you to disappear at once from this falseposition. "

"I am scarcely my own master, " Dominey replied. "You yourself must knowthat. I am here as a servant under orders. "

"Join your protests with mine, " the Prince suggested. "I will make areport directly I get back to London. To my mind, the matter is urgent. If anything should lead to the discovery of your false position in thiscountry, the friendship between us which has become a real pleasure tome must seriously undermine my own position. "

Dominey had risen to his feet and was standing on the hearthrug, infront of a fire of blazing logs. The Ambassador was sitting with crossedlegs in a comfortable easy-chair, smoking one of the long, thin cigarswhich were his particular fancy. 

"Your Excellency, " Dominey said, "there is just one fallacy in all thatyou have said. "

"A fallacy?"

"You have come to the absolute conclusion, " Dominey continued, "thatbecause England wants peace there will be peace. I am of Seaman's mind. I believe in the ultimate power of the military party of Germany. Ibelieve that in time they will thrust their will upon the Kaiser, if heis not at the present moment secretly in league with them. Therefore, Ibelieve that there will be war. "

"If I shared that belief with you, my friend, " the Ambassador saidquietly, "I should consider my position here one of dishonour. Mymandate is for peace, and my charge is from the Kaiser's lips. "

Stephanie, with the air of one a little weary of the conversation, brokeaway from a distant group and came towards them. Her beautiful eyesseemed tired, she moved listlessly, and she even spoke with less thanher usual assurance. 

"Am I disturbing a serious conversation?" she asked. "Send me away if Iam. "

"His Excellency and I, " Dominey observed, "have reached a cul-de-sacin our argument, --the blank wall of good-natured but fundamentaldisagreement. "

"Then I shall claim you for a while, " Stephanie declared, takingDominey's arm. "Lady Dominey has attracted all the men to her circle, and I am lonely. "

The Prince bowed. 

"I deny the cul-de-sac, " he said, "but I yield our host! I shall seek myopponent at billiards. "

He turned away and Stephanie sank into his vacant place. 

"So you and my cousin, " she remarked, as she made room for Dominey tosit by her side, "have come to a disagreement. "

"Not an unfriendly one, " her host assured her. 

"That I am sure of. Maurice seems, indeed, to have taken a wonderfulliking to you. I cannot remember that you ever met before, except forthat day or two in Saxony?"

"That is so. The first time I exchanged any intimate conversation withthe Prince was in London. I have the utmost respect and regard for him, but I cannot help feeling that the pleasant intimacy to which he hasadmitted me is to a large extent owing to the desire of our friendsin Berlin. So far as I am concerned I have never met any one, of anynation, whose character I admire more. "

"Maurice lives his life loftily. He is one of the few great aristocratsI have met who carries his nobility of birth into his simplest thoughtand action. There is just one thing, " she added, "which would break hisheart. "

"And that?"

"The subject upon which you two disagree--a war between Germany and thiscountry. "

"The Prince is an idealist, " Dominey said. "Sometimes I wonder whyhe was sent here, why they did not send some one of a more intriguingcharacter. "

She shrugged her shoulders. 

"You agree with that great Frenchman, " she observed, "that no ambassadorcan remain a gentleman--politically. "

"Well, I have never been a diplomat, so I cannot say, " Dominey replied. 

"You have many qualifications, I should think, " she observed cuttingly. 

"Such as?"

"You are absolutely callous, absolutely without heart or sympathy whereyour work is concerned. "

"I do not admit it, " he protested. 

"I go back to London to-morrow, " she continued, "a very miserable andunhappy woman. I take with me the letter which should have brought mehappiness. The love for which I have sacrificed my life has failed me. Not even the whip of a royal command, not even all that I have to offer, can give me even five seconds of happiness. "

"All that I have pleaded for, " Dominey reminded her earnestly, "isdelay. "

"And what delay do you think, " she asked, with a sudden note of passionin her tone, "would the Leopold Von Ragastein of six years ago havepleaded for? Delay! He found words then which would have melted aniceberg. He found words the memory of which comes to me sometimes in thenight and which mock me. He had no country then save the paradise wherelovers walk, no ruler but a queen, and I was she. And now--"

Dominey felt a strange pang of distress. She saw the unusual softeningin his face, and her eyes lit up. 

"Just for a moment, " she broke off, "you were like Leopold. As a rule, you know, you are not like him. I think that you left him somewhere inAfrica and came home in his likeness. "

"Believe that for a little time, " Dominey begged earnestly. 

"What if it were true?" she asked abruptly. "There are times when Ido not recognise you. There are words Leopold used to use which I havenever heard from your lips. Is not West Africa the sorcerer's paradise?Perhaps you are an imposter, and the man I love is there still, introuble--perhaps ill. You play the part of Everard Dominey like a veryking of actors. Perhaps before you came here you played the part ofLeopold. You are not my Leopold. Love cannot die as you would have mebelieve. "

"Now, " he said coolly, "you are coming round to my way of thinking. I have been assuring you, from the very first moment we met at theCarlton, that I was not your Leopold--that I was Everard Dominey. "

"I shall put you to the test, " she exclaimed suddenly, rising to herfeet. "Your arm, if you please. "

She led him across the hall to where little groups of people weregossiping, playing bridge, and Seaman, the center of a little group ofgullible amateur speculators, was lecturing on mines. They stopped tosay a word or two here and there, but Stephanie's fingers never left hercompanion's arm. They passed down a corridor hung with a collection ofwonderful sporting prints in which she affected some interest, into asmall gallery which led into the ballroom. Here they were alone. Shelaid her hands upon his shoulders and looked up into his eyes. Her lipsdrew nearer to his. 

"Kiss me--upon the lips, Leopold, " she ordered. 

"There is no Leopold here, " he replied; "you yourself have said it. "

She came a little nearer. "Upon the lips, " she whispered. 

He held her, stooped down, and their lips met. Then she stood apartfrom him. Her eyes were for a moment closed, her hands were extended asthough to prevent any chance of his approaching her again. 

"Now I know the truth, " she muttered. 

Dominey found an opportunity to draw Seaman away from his little groupof investment-seeking friends. 

"My friend, " he said, "trouble grows. "

"Anything more from Schmidt's supposed emissary?" Seaman asked quickly. 

"No. I am going to keep away from him this evening, and I advise you todo the same. The trouble is with the Princess. "

"With the Princess, " declared Seaman. "I think you have blundered. Iquite appreciate your general principles of behaving internally andexternally as though you were the person whom you pretend to be. It isthe very essence of all successful espionage. But you should know whento make exceptions. I see grave objections myself to your obeying theKaiser's behest. On the other hand, I see no objection whatever to yourtreating the Princess in a more human manner, to your visiting her inLondon, and giving her more ardent proofs of your continued affection. "

"If I once begin--"

"Look here, " Seaman interrupted, "the Princess is a woman of the world. She knows what she is doing, and there is a definite tie between you. Itell you frankly that I could not bear to see you playing the idiot fora moment with Lady Dominey, but with the Princess, scruples don't enterinto the question at all. You should by no means make an enemy of her. "

"Well, I have done it, " Dominey acknowledged. "She has gone off tobed now, and she is leaving early to-morrow morning. She thinks I haveborrowed some West African magic, that I have left her lover's soul outthere and come home in his body. "

"Well, if she does, " Seaman declared, "you are out of your troubles. "

"Am I!" Dominey replied gloomily. "First of all, she may do a lot ofmischief before she goes. And then, supposing by any thousand to onechance the story of this cousin of Schmidt's should be true, and sheshould find Dominey out there, still alive? The Princess is not ofGerman birth, you know. She cares nothing for Germany's future. Asa matter of fact, I think, like a great many Hungarians, she prefersEngland. They say that an Englishman has as many lives as a cat. Supposing that chap Dominey did come to life again and she brings himhome? You say yourself that you do not mean to make much use of me untilafter the war has started. In the parlance of this country of idioms, that will rather upset the apple cart, will it not?"

"Has the Princess a suite of rooms here?" Seaman enquired. 

"Over in the west wing. Good idea! You go and see what you can do withher. She will not think of going to bed at this time of night. "

Seaman nodded. 

"Leave it to me, " he directed. "You go out and play the host. "

Dominey played the host first and then the husband. Rosamund welcomedhim with a little cry of pleasure. 

"I have been enjoying myself so much, Everard!" she exclaimed. "Everybody has been so kind, and Mr. Mangan has taught me a newPatience. "

"And now, I think, " Doctor Harrison intervened a little gruffly, "it'stime to knock off for the evening. "

She turned very sweetly to Everard. 

"Will you take me upstairs?" she begged. "I have been hoping so muchthat you would come before Doctor Harrison sent me off. "

"I should have been very disappointed if I had been too late, " Domineyassured her. "Now say good night to everybody. "

"Why, you talk to me as though I were a child, " she laughed. "Well, good-bye, everybody, then. You see, my stern husband is taking me off. When are you coming to see me, Doctor Harrison?"

"Nothing to see you for, " was the gruff reply. "You are as well as anywoman here. "

"Just a little unsympathetic, isn't he?" she complained to Dominey. "Please take me through the hall, so that I can say good-bye to everyone else. Is the Princess Eiderstrom there?"

"I am afraid that she has gone to bed, " Dominey answered, as they passedout of the room. "She said something about a headache. "

"She is very beautiful, " Rosamund said wistfully. "I wish she looked asthough she liked me a little more. Is she very fond of you, Everard?"

"I think that I am rather in her bad books just at present, " Domineyconfessed. 

"I wonder! I am very observant, and I have seen her looking at yousometimes--Of course, " Rosamund went on, "as I am not really your wifeand you are not really my husband, it is very stupid of me to feeljealous, isn't it, Everard?"

"Not a bit, " he answered. "If I am not your husband, I will not beanybody else's. "

"I love you to say that, " she admitted, with a little sigh, "but itseems wrong somewhere. Look how cross the Duchess looks! Some one musthave played the wrong card. "

Rosamund's farewells were not easily made; Terniloff especially seemedreluctant to let her go. She excused herself gracefully, however, promising to sit up a little later the next evening. Dominey led the wayupstairs, curiously gratified at her lingering progress. He took herto the door of her room and looked in. The nurse was sitting in aneasy-chair, reading, and the maid was sewing in the background. 

"Well, you look very comfortable here, " he declared cheerfully. "Pray donot move, nurse. "

Rosamund held his hands, as though reluctant to let him go. Then shedrew his face down and kissed him. 

"Yes, " she said a little plaintively, "it's very comfortable. --Everard?"

"Yes, dear?"

She drew his head down and whispered in his ear. 

"May I come in and say good night for two minutes?"

He smiled--a wonderfully kind smile--but shook his head. 

"Not to-night, dear, " he replied. "The Prince loves to sit up late, andI shall be downstairs with him. Besides, that bully of a doctor of yoursinsists upon ten hours' sleep. "

She sighed like a disappointed child. 

"Very well. " She paused for a moment to listen. "Wasn't that a car?" sheasked. 

"Some of our guests going early, I dare say, " he replied, as he turnedaway. 

CHAPTER XXIII

Seaman did not at once start on his mission to the Princess. He madehis way instead to the servants' quarters and knocked at the door of thebutler's sitting-room. There was no reply. He tried the handle in vain. The door was locked. A tall, grave-faced man in sombre black came outfrom an adjoining apartment. 

"You are looking for the person who arrived this evening from abroad, sir?" he enquired. 

"I am, " Seaman replied. "Has he locked himself in?"

"He has left the Hall, sir!"

"Left!" Seaman repeated. "Do you mean gone away for good?"

"Apparently, sir. I do not understand his language myself, but Ibelieve he considered his reception here, for some reason or other, unfavourable. He took advantage of the car which went down to thestation for the evening papers and caught the last train. "

Seaman was silent for a moment. The news was a shock to him. 

"What is your position here?" he asked his informant. 

"My name is Reynolds, sir, " was the respectful reply. "I am Mr. Pelham'sservant. "

"Can you tell me why, if this man has left the door here is locked?"

"Mr. Parkins locked it before he went out, sir. He accompanied--Mr. Miller, I think his name was--to the station. "

Seaman had the air of a man not wholly satisfied. 

"Is it usual to lock up a sitting-room in this fashion?" he asked. 

"Mr. Parkins always does it, sir. The cabinets of cigars are kept there, also the wine-cellar key and the key of the plate chest. None of theother servants use the room except at Mr. Parkins' invitation. "

"I understand, " Seaman said, as he turned away. "Much obliged for yourinformation, Reynolds. I will speak to Mr. Parkins later. "

"I will let him know that you desire to see him, sir. "

"Good night, Reynolds!"

"Good night, sir!"

Seaman passed back again to the crowded hall and billiard-room, exchanged a few remarks here and there, and made his way up the southernflight of stairs toward the west wing. Stephanie consented withouthesitation to receive him. She was seated in front of the fire, readinga novel, in a boudoir opening out of her bedroom. 

"Princess, " Seaman declared, with a low bow, "we are in despair at yourdesertion. "

She put down her book. 

"I have been insulted in this house, " she said. "To-morrow I leave it. "

Seaman shook his head reproachfully. 

"Your Highness, " he continued, "believe me, I do not wish to presumeupon my position. I am only a German tradesman, admitted to the circleslike these for reasons connected solely with the welfare of my country. Yet I know much, as it happens, of the truth of this matter, the matterwhich is causing you distress. I beg you to reconsider your decision. Our friend here is, I think, needlessly hard upon himself. So much thegreater will be his reward when the end comes. So much the greater willbe the rapture with which he will throw himself on his knees beforeyou. "

"Has he sent you to reason with me?"

"Not directly. I am to a certain extent, however, his major-domo in thisenterprise. I brought him from Africa. I have watched over him from thestart. Two brains are better than one. I try to show him where to avoidmistakes, I try to point out the paths of danger and of safety. "

"I should imagine Sir Everard finds you useful, " she remarked calmly. 

"I hope he does. "

"It has doubtless occurred to you, " she continued, "that our friend hasaccommodated himself wonderfully to English life and customs?"

"You must remember that he was educated here. Nevertheless, his aptitudehas been marvellous. "

"One might almost call it supernatural, " she agreed. "Tell me, Mr. Seaman, you seem to have been completely successful in the installationof our friend here as Sir Everard. What is going to be his real value toyou? What work will he do?"

"We are keeping him for the big things. You have seen our graciousmaster lately?" he added hesitatingly. 

"I know what is at the back of your mind, " she replied. "Yes! Before thesummer is over I am to pack up my trunks and fly. I understand. "

"It is when that time comes, " Seaman said impressively, "that we expectSir Everard Dominey, the typical English country gentleman, of whoseloyalty there has never been a word of doubt, to be of use to us. Mostof our present helpers will be under suspicion. The authorised staff ofour secret service can only work underneath. You can see for yourselfthe advantage we gain in having a confidential correspondent who can dayby day reflect the changing psychology of the British mind in all itsphases. We have quite enough of the other sort of help arranged for. Plans of ships, aerodromes and harbours, sailings of convoys, calling upof soldiers--all these are the A B C of our secret service profession. We shall never ask our friend here for a single fact, but, from his townhouse in Berkeley Square, the host of Cabinet Ministers, of soldiers, ofthe best brains of the country, our fingers will never leave the pulseof Britain's day by day life. "

Stephanie threw herself back in her easy-chair and clasped her handsbehind her head. 

"These things you are expecting from our present host?"

"We are, and we expect to get them. I have watched him day by day. Myconfidence in him has grown. "

Stephanie was silent. She sat looking into the fire. Seaman, keenlyobservant as always, realised the change in her, yet found something ofmystery in her new detachment of manner. 

"Your Highness, " he urged, "I am not here to speak on behalf of the manwho at heart is, I know, your lover. He will plead his own cause whenthe time comes. But I am here to plead for patience, I am here toimplore you to take no rash step, to do nothing which might imperil inany way his position here. I stand outside the gates of the world whichyour sex can make a paradise. I am no judge of the things that happenthere. But in your heart I feel there is bitterness, because the manfor whom you care has chosen to place his country first. I implore yourpatience, Princess. I implore you to believe what I know so well, --thatit is the sternest sense of duty only which is the foundation of LeopoldVon Ragastein's obdurate attitude. "

"What are you afraid that I shall do?" she asked curiously. 

"I am afraid of nothing--directly. "

"Indirectly, then? Answer me, please. "

"I am afraid, " he admitted frankly, "that in some corner of the world, if not in this country, you might whisper a word, a scoffing or an angrysentence, which would make people wonder what grudge you had against asimple Norfolk baronet. I would not like that word to be spoken inthe presence of any one who knew your history and realised the ratheramazing likeness between Sir Everard Dominey and Baron Leopold VonRagastein. "

"I see, " Stephanie murmured, a faint smile parting her lips. "Well, Mr. Seaman, I do not think that you need have many fears. What I shall carryaway with me in my heart is not for you or any man to know. In a fewdays I shall leave this country. "

"You are going back to Berlin--to Hungary?"

She shook her head, beckoned her maid to open the door, and held out herhand in token of dismissal. 

"I am going to take a sea voyage, " she announced. "I shall go toAfrica. "

The morrow was a day of mild surprises. Eddy Pelham's empty place wasthe first to attract notice, towards the end of breakfast time. 

"Where's the pink and white immaculate?" the Right Honourable gentlemanasked. "I miss my morning wonder as to how he tied his tie. "

"Gone, " Dominey replied, looking round from the sideboard. 

"Gone?" every one repeated. 

"I should think such a thing has never happened to him before, " Domineyobserved. "He was wanted in town. "

"Fancy any one wanting Eddy for any serious purpose!" Caroline murmured. 

"Fancy any one wanting him badly enough to drag him out of bed in themiddle of the night with a telephone call and send him up to town by thebreakfast train from Norwich!" their host continued. "I thought we hadstarted a new ghost when he came into my room in a purple dressing-gownand broke the news. "

"Who wanted him?" the Duke enquired. "His tailor?"

"Business of importance was his pretext, " Dominey replied. 

There was a little ripple of good-humoured laughter. 

"Does Eddy do anything for a living?" Caroline asked, yawning. 

"Mr. Pelham is a director of the Chelsea Motor Works, " Mangan told them. "He received a small legacy last year, and his favourite taxicab man wasthe first to know about it. "

"You're not suggesting, " she exclaimed, "that it is business of thatsort which has taken Eddy away!"

"I should think it most improbable, " Mangan confessed. "As a matter offact, he asked me the other day if I knew where their premises were. "

"We shall miss him, " she acknowledged. "It was quite one of the eventsof the day to see his costume after shooting. "

"His bridge was reasonably good, " the Duke commented. 

"He shot rather well the last two days, " Mangan remarked. 

"And he had told me confidentially, " Caroline concluded, "that he wasgoing to wear brown to-day. Now I think Eddy would have looked nice inbrown. "

The missing young man's requiem was finished by the arrival of the localmorning papers. A few moments later Dominey rose and left the room. Seaman, who had been unusually silent, followed him. 

"My friend, " he confided, "I do not know whether you have heard, butthere was a curious disappearance from the Hall last night. "

"Whose?" Dominey asked, pausing in the act of selecting a cigarette. 

"Our friend Miller, or Wolff--Doctor Schmidt's emissary, " Seamanannounced, "has disappeared. "

"Disappeared?" Dominey repeated. "I suppose he is having a prowl roundsomewhere. "

"I have left it to you to make more careful enquiries, " Seaman replied. "All I can tell you is that I made up my mind last night to interviewhim once more and try to fathom his very mysterious behaviour. Ifound the door of your butler's sitting-room locked, and a very civilfellow--Mr. Pelham's valet he turned out to be--told me that he had leftin the car which went for the evening papers. "

"I will go and make some enquiries, " Dominey decided, after a moment'spuzzled consideration. 

"If you please, " Seaman acquiesced. "The affair disconcerts me because Ido not understand it. When there is a thing which I do not understand, Iam uncomfortable. "

Dominey vanished into the nether regions, spent half an hour withRosamund, and saw nothing of his disturbed guest again until they werewalking to the first wood. They had a moment together after Dominey hadpointed out the stands. 

"Well?" Seaman enquired. 

"Our friend, " Dominey announced, "apparently made up his mind to goquite suddenly. A bed was arranged for him--or rather it is alwaysthere--in a small apartment opening out of the butler's room, onthe ground floor. He said nothing about leaving until he saw Parkinspreparing to go down to the station with the chauffeur. Then he insistedupon accompanying him, and when he found there was a train to Norwich hesimply bade them both good night. He left no message whatever for eitheryou or me. "

Seaman was thoughtful. 

"There is no doubt, " he said, "that his departure was indicative of acertain distrust in us. He came to find out something, and I suppose hefound it out. I envy you your composure, my friend. We live on the brinkof a volcano, and you shoot pheasants. "

"We will try a partridge for a change, " Dominey observed, swinging roundas a single Frenchman with a dull whiz crossed the hedge behind themand fell a little distance away, a crumpled heap of feathers. "Neat, Ithink?" he added, turning to his companion. 

"Marvellous!" Seaman replied, with faint sarcasm. "I envy your nerve. "

"I cannot take this matter very seriously, " Dominey acknowledged. "Thefellow seemed to me quite harmless. "

"My anxieties have also been aroused in another direction, " Seamanconfided. 

"Any other trouble looming?" Dominey asked. 

"You will find yourself minus another guest when you return thisafternoon. "

"The Princess?"

"The Princess, " Seaman assented. "I did my best with her last night, butI found her in a most peculiar frame of mind. We are to be relieved ofany anxiety concerning her for some time, however. She has decided totake a sea voyage. "

"Where to?"

"Africa!"

Dominey paused in the act of inserting a cartridge into his gun. Heturned slowly around and looked into his companion's expressionlessface. 

"Why the mischief is she going out there?" he asked. 

"I can no more tell you that, " Seaman replied, "than why Johann Wolffwas sent over here to spy upon our perfect work. I am most unhappy, myfriend. The things which I understand, however threatening they are, Ido not fear. Things which I do not understand oppress me. "

Dominey laughed quietly. 

"Come, " he said, "there is nothing here which seriously threatens ourposition. The Princess is angry, but she is not likely to give us away. This man Wolff could make no adverse report about either of us. We aredoing our job and doing it well. Let our clear consciences console us. "

"That is well, " Seaman replied, "but I feel uneasy. I must not stay herelonger. Too intimate an association between you and me is unwise. "

"Well, I think I can be trusted, " Dominey observed, "even if I am to beleft alone. "

"In every respect except as regards the Princess, " Seaman admitted, "your deportment has been most discreet. "

"Except as regards the Princess, " Dominey repeated irritably. "Really, my friend, I cannot understand your point of view in this matter. You could not expect me to mix up a secret honeymoon with my presentcommitments!"

"There might surely have been some middle way?" Seaman persisted. "Youshow so much tact in other matters. "

"You do not know the Princess, " Dominey muttered. 

Rosamund joined them for luncheon, bringing news of Stephanie's suddendeparture, with notes and messages for everybody. Caroline made a littlegrimace at her host. 

"You're in trouble!" she whispered in his ear. "All the same, I approve. I like Stephanie, but she is an exceedingly dangerous person. "

"I wonder whether she is, " Dominey mused. 

"I think men have generally found her so, " Caroline replied. "She hadone wonderful love affair, which ended, as you know, in her husbandbeing killed in a duel and her lover being banished from the country. Still, she's not quite the sort of woman to be content with a banishedlover. I fancied I noticed distinct signs of her being willing toreplace him whilst she has been down here!"

"I feel as though a blight had settled upon my house party, " Domineyremarked with bland irrelevancy. "First Eddy, then Mr. Ludwig Miller, and now Stephanie. "

"And who on earth was Mr. Ludwig Miller, after all?" Caroline enquired. 

"He was a fat, flaxen-haired German who brought me messages from oldfriends in Africa. He had no luggage but a walking stick, and he seemsto have upset the male part of my domestics last night by accepting abed and then disappearing!"

"With the plate?"

"Not a thing missing. Parkins spent an agonised half hour, countingeverything. Mr. Ludwig appears to be one of those unsolved mysterieswhich go to make up an imperfect world. "

"Well, we've had a jolly time, " Caroline said reminiscently. "To-morrowHenry and I are off, and I suppose the others. I must say on the whole Iam delighted with our visit. "

"You are very gracious, " Dominey murmured. 

"I came, perhaps, expecting to see a little more of you, " she wenton deliberately, "but there is a very great compensation for mydisappointment. I think your wife, Everard, is worth taking troubleabout. She is perfectly sweet, and her manners are most attractive. "

"I am very glad you think that, " he said warmly. 

She looked away from him. 

"Everard, " she sighed, "I believe you are in love with your wife. "

There was a strange, almost a terrible mixture of expressions in hisface as he answered, --a certain fear, a certain fondness, a certainalmost desperate resignation. Even his voice, as a rule so slow andmeasured, shook with an emotion which amazed his companion. 

"I believe I am, " he muttered. "I am afraid of my feelings for her. Itmay bring even another tragedy down upon us. "

"Don't talk rubbish!" Caroline exclaimed. "What tragedy could comebetween you now? You've recovered your balance. You are a strong, steadfast person, just fitted to be the protector of anything so sweetand charming as Rosamund. Tragedy, indeed! Why don't you take herdown to the South of France, Everard, and have your honeymoon all overagain?"

"I can't do that just yet. "

She studied him curiously. There were times when he seemed whollyincomprehensible to her. 

"Are you still worried about that Unthank affair?" she asked. 

He hesitated for a moment. 

"There is still an aftermath to our troubles, " he told her, "one cloudwhich leans over us. I shall clear it up in time, --but other things mayhappen first. "

"You take yourself very seriously, Everard, " she observed, looking athim with a puzzled expression. "One would think that there was a sideof your life, and a very important one, which you kept entirely toyourself. Why do you have that funny little man Seaman always round withyou? You're not being blackmailed or anything, are you?"

"On the contrary, " he told her, "Seaman was the first founder of myfortunes. "

She shrugged her shoulders. 

"I have made a little money once or twice on the Stock Exchange, " sheremarked, "but I didn't have to carry my broker about in my pocketafterwards. "

"Seaman is a good-hearted little fellow, and he loves companionship. Hewill drift away presently, and one won't see anything of him for ages. "

"Henry began to wonder, " she concluded drily, "whether you were going tostand for Parliament on the Anglo-German alliance ticket. "

Dominey laughed as he caught Middleton's reproachful eye in the doorwayof the farmer's kitchen in which they were hunching. He gave the signalto rise. 

"I have had some thoughts of Parliament, " he admitted, "but--well, Henryneed not worry. "

CHAPTER XXIV

The next morning saw the breaking-up of Dominey's carefully arrangedshooting party. The Prince took his host's arm and led him to one sidefor a few moments, as the cars were being loaded up. His first few wordswere of formal thanks. He spoke then more intimately. 

"Von Ragastein, " he said, "I desire to refer back for a moment to ourconversation the other day. "

Dominey shook his head and glanced behind. 

"I know only one name here, Prince. "

"Dominey, then. I will confess that you play and carry the part throughperfectly. I have known English gentlemen all my life, and you havethe trick of the thing. But listen. I have already told you of mydisapproval of this scheme in which you are the central figure. "

"It is understood, " Dominey assented. 

"That, " the Prince continued, "is a personal matter. What I am now goingto say to you is official. I had despatches from Berlin last night. Theyconcern you. "

Dominey seemed to stiffen a little. 

"Well?"

"I am given to understand, " the Ambassador continued, "that youpractically exist only in the event of that catastrophe which I, forone, cannot foresee. I am assured that if your expose should take placeat any time, your personation will be regarded as a private enterprise, and there is nothing whatever to connect you with any political work. "

"Up to the present that is absolutely so, " Dominey agreed. 

"I am further advised to look upon you as my unnamed and unsuspectedsuccessor here, in the event of war. For that reason I am begged toinaugurate terms of intimacy with you, to treat you with the utmostconfidence, and, if the black end should come, to leave in your handsall such unfulfilled work as can be continued in secrecy and silence. Iperhaps express myself in a somewhat confused manner. "

"I understand perfectly, " Dominey replied. "The authorities have changedtheir first idea as to my presence here. They want to keep every shadowof suspicion away from me, so that in the event of war I shall havean absolutely unique position, an unsuspected yet fervently patrioticGerman, living hand in glove with the upper classes of English Society. One can well imagine that there would be work for me. "

"Our understanding is mutual, " Terniloff declared. "What I have to sayto you, therefore, is that I hope you will soon follow us to Londonand give me the opportunity of offering you the constant hospitality ofCarlton House Gardens. "

"You are very kind, Prince, " Dominey said. "My instructions are, as soonas I have consolidated my position here--an event which I fancy I mayconsider attained--to establish myself in London and to await orders. Itrust that amongst other things you will then permit me to examine thememoirs you spoke of the other day. "

"Naturally, and with the utmost pleasure, " the Ambassador assented. "They are a faithful record of my interviews and negotiations withcertain Ministers here, and they reflect a desire and intention forpeace which will, I think, amaze you. I venture now upon a somewhatdelicate question, " he continued, changing the subject of theirconversation abruptly, as they turned back along the terrace. "LadyDominey will accompany you?"

"Of that I am not sure, " Dominey replied thoughtfully. "I have noticed, Prince, if I may be allowed to say so, your chivalrous regard for thatlady. You will permit me to assure you that in the peculiar position inwhich I am placed I shall never forget that she is the wife of EverardDominey. "

Terniloff shook hands heartily. 

"I wanted to hear that from you, " he admitted. "You I felt instinctivelywere different, but there are many men of our race who are willingenough to sacrifice a woman without the slightest scruple, either fortheir passions or their policy. I find Lady Dominey charming. "

"She will never lack a protector in me, " Dominey declared. 

There were more farewells and, soon after, the little procession of carsdrove off. Rosamund herself was on the terrace, bidding all her guestsfarewell. She clung to Dominey's arm when at last they turned back intothe empty hall. 

"What dear people they were, Everard!" she exclaimed. "I only wish thatI had seen more of them. The Duchess was perfectly charming to me, and Inever knew any one with such delightful manners as Prince Terniloff. Areyou going to miss them very much, dear?"

"Not a bit, " he answered. "I think I shall take a gun now and strolldown the meadows and across the rough ground. Will you come with me, orwill you put on one of your pretty gowns and entertain me downstairs atluncheon? It is a very long time since we had a meal alone together. "

She shook her head a little sadly. 

"We never have had, " she answered. "You know that, Everard, and alas! Iknow it. But we are going on pretending, aren't we?"

He raised her fingers to his lips and kissed them. 

"You shall pretend all that you like, dear Rosamund, " he promised, "andI will be the shadow of your desires. No! No tears!" he added quickly, as she turned away. "Remember there is nothing but happiness for younow. Whoever I am or am not, that is my one aim in life. "

She clutched at his hand passionately, and suddenly, as though findingit insufficient, twined her arms around his neck and kissed him. 

"Let me come with you, " she begged. "I can't bear to let you go. I'll bevery quiet. Will you wait ten minutes for me?"

"Of course, " he answered. 

He strolled down towards the gun room, stood by the fire for a moment, and then wandered out into the courtyard, where Middleton and a coupleof beaters were waiting for him with the dogs. He had scarcely takena step towards them, however, when he stopped short. To his amazementSeaman was there, standing a little on one side, with his eyes fixedupon the windows of the servants' quarters. 

"Hullo, my friend!" he exclaimed. "Why, I thought you went by the earlytrain from Thursford Station?"

"Missed it by two minutes, " Seaman replied with a glance towards thebeaters. "I knew all the cars were full for the eleven o'clock, so Ithought I'd wait till the afternoon. "

"And where have you been to for the last few hours, then?"

Seaman had reached his side now and was out of earshot of the others. 

"Trying to solve the mystery of Johann Wolff's sudden departure lastnight. Come and walk down the avenue with me a short way. "

"A very short distance, then. I am expecting Lady Dominey. "

They passed through the thin iron gates and paced along one of the backentrances to the Hall. 

"Do not think me indiscreet, " Seaman began. "I returned without theknowledge of any one, and I kept out of the way until they had all gone. It is what I told you before. Things which I do not understanddepress me, and behold! I have found proof this morning of a furthersignificance in Wolff's sudden departure. "

"Proceed, " Dominey begged. 

"I learned this morning, entirely by accident, that Mr. Pelham's servantwas either mistaken or willfully deceived me. Wolff did not accompanyyour butler to the station. "

"And how did you find that out?" Dominey demanded. 

"It is immaterial! What is material is that there is a sort ofconspiracy amongst the servants here to conceal the manner of hisleaving. Do not interrupt me, I beg! Early this morning there was afresh fall of snow which has now disappeared. Outside the window of theroom which I found locked were the marks of footsteps and the tracks ofa small car. "

"And what do you gather from all this?" Dominey asked. 

"I gather that Wolff must have had friends in the neighbourhood, " Seamanreplied, "or else--"

"Well?"

"My last supposition sounds absurd, " Seaman confessed, "but the wholematter is so incomprehensible that I was going to say--or else he wasforcibly removed. "

Dominey laughed softly. 

"Wolff would scarcely have been an easy man to abduct, would he, " heremarked, "even if we could hit upon any plausible reason for such athing! As a matter of fact, Seaman, " he concluded, turning on his heela little abruptly as he saw Rosamund standing in the avenue, "I cannotbring myself to treat this Johann Wolff business seriously. Granted thatthe man was a spy, well, let him get on with it. We are doing our jobhere in the most perfect and praiseworthy fashion. We neither of us havethe ghost of a secret to hide from his employers. "

"In a sense that is true, " Seaman admitted. 

"Well, then, cheer up, " Dominey enjoined. "Take a little walk with us, and we will see whether Parkins cannot find us a bottle of that oldBurgundy for lunch. How does that sound?"

"If you will excuse me from taking the walk, " Seaman begged, "I wouldlike to remain here until your return. "

"You are more likely to do harm, " Dominey reminded him, "and setthe servants talking, if you show too much interest in this man'sdisappearance. "

"I shall be careful, " Seaman promised, "but there are certain thingswhich I cannot help. I work always from instinct, and my instinct isnever wrong. I will ask no more questions of your servants, but I knowthat there is something mysterious about the sudden departure of JohannWolff. "

Dominey and Rosamund returned about one o'clock to find a note fromSeaman, which the former tore open as his companion stood warming herfeet in front of the fire. There were only a few lines:

"I am following an idea. It takes me to London. Let us meet there withina few days. 

"S. "

"Has he really gone?" Rosamund asked. 

"Back to London. "

She laughed happily. "Then we shall lunch _a deux_ after all!Delightful! I have my wish!"

There was a sudden glow in Dominey's face, a glow which was instantlysuppressed. 

"Shall I ever have mine?" he asked, with a queer little break in hisvoice. 

CHAPTER XXV

Terniloff and Dominey, one morning about six months later, loungedunderneath a great elm tree at Ranelagh, having iced drinks after around of golf. Several millions of perspiring Englishmen were at thesame moment studying with dazed wonder the headlines in the middaypapers. 

"I suppose, " the Ambassador remarked, as he leaned back in his chairwith an air of lazy content, "that I am being accused of fiddling whileRome burns. "

"Every one has certainly not your confidence in the situation, " Domineyrejoined calmly. 

"There is no one else who knows quite so much, " Terniloff reminded him. 

Dominey sipped his drink for a moment or two in silence. 

"Have you the latest news of the Russian mobilisation?" he asked. "Theyhad some startling figures in the city this morning. "

The Prince waved his hand. 

"My faith is not founded on these extraneous incidents, " he replied. "IfRussia mobilises, it is for defence. No nation in the world woulddream of attacking Germany, nor has Germany the slightest intentionof imperilling her coming supremacy amongst the nations by such crudemethods as military enterprise. Servia must be punished, naturally, butto that, in principle, every nation in Europe is agreed. We shall notpermit Austria to overstep the mark. "

"You are at least consistent, Prince, " Dominey remarked. 

Terniloff smiled. 

"That is because I have been taken behind the scenes, " he said. "I havebeen shown, as is the privilege of ambassadors, the mind of our rulers. You, my friend, " he went on, "spent your youth amongst the militaryfaction. You think that you are the most important people in Germany. Well, you are not. The Kaiser has willed it otherwise. By-the-by, I hadyesterday a most extraordinary cable from Stephanie. "

Dominey ceased swinging his putter carelessly over the head of a daisyand turned his head to listen. 

"Is she on the way home?"

"She is due in Southampton at any moment now. She wants to know whereshe can see me immediately upon her arrival, as she has information ofthe utmost importance to give me. "

"Did she ever tell you the reason for her journey to Africa?"

"She was most mysterious about it. If such an idea had had any logicaloutcome, I should have surmised that she was going there to seekinformation as to your past. "

"She gave Seaman the same idea, " Dominey observed. "I scarcely see whatshe has to gain. In Africa, as a matter of fact, " he went on, "my lifewould bear the strictest investigation. "

"The whole affair is singularly foolish, " the Prince declared, "Still, I am not sure that you have been altogether wise. Even accepting yourposition, I see no reason why you should not have obeyed the Kaiser'sbehest. My experience of your Society here is that love affairs betweenmen and women moving in the same circles are not uncommon. "

"That, " Dominey urged, "is when they are all tarred with the same brush. My behaviour towards Lady Dominey has been culpable enough as it is. To have placed her in the position of a neglected wife would have beenindefensible. Further, it might have affected the position which it isin the interests of my work that I should maintain here. "

"An old subject, " the Ambassador sighed, "best not rediscussed. Behold, our womenkind!"

Rosamund and the Princess had issued from the house, and the two menhastened to meet them. The latter looked charming, exquisitely gowned, and stately in appearance. By her side Rosamund, dressed with the samesuccess but in younger fashion, seemed almost like a child. Theypassed into the luncheon room, crowded with many little parties ofdistinguished and interesting people, brilliant with the red livery ofthe waiters, the profusion of flowers--all that nameless elegance whichhad made the place society's most popular rendezvous. The women, as theysettled into their places, asked a question which was on the lips of agreat many English people of that day. 

"Is there any news?"

Terniloff perhaps felt that he was the cynosure of many eager andanxious eyes. He smiled light-heartedly as he answered:

"None. If there were, I am convinced that it would be good. I have beenallowed to play out my titanic struggle against Sir Everard withoutinterruption. "

"I suppose the next important question to whether it is to be peace orwar is, how did you play?" the Princess asked. 

"I surpassed myself, " her husband replied, "but of course no ordinaryhuman golfer is of any account against Dominey. He plays far too wellfor any self-respecting Ger--"

The Ambassador broke off and paused while he helped himself tomayonnaise. 

"For any self-respecting German to play against, " he concluded. 

Luncheon was a very pleasant meal, and a good many people noticed thevivacity of the beautiful Lady Dominey whose picture was beginningto appear in the illustrated papers. Afterwards they drank coffee andsipped liqueurs under the great elm tree on the lawn, listening to themusic and congratulating themselves upon having made their escapefrom London. In the ever-shifting panorama of gaily-dressed women andflannel-clad men, the monotony of which was varied here and there by thepassing of a diplomatist or a Frenchman, scrupulously attired in morningclothes, were many familiar faces. Caroline and a little group offriends waved to them from the terrace. Eddy Pelham, in immaculatewhite, and a long tennis coat with dark blue edgings, paused to speak tothem on his way to the courts. 

"How is the motor business, Eddy?" Dominey asked, with a twinkle in hiseyes. 

"So, so! I'm not quite so keen as I was. To tell you the truth, " theyoung man confided, glancing around and lowering his voice so that noone should share the momentous information, "I was lucky enough to pickup a small share in Jere Moore's racing stable at Newmarket, the otherday. I fancy I know a little more about gee-gees than I do about theinside of motors, what?"

"I should think very possibly that you are right, " Dominey assented, asthe young man passed on with a farewell salute. 

Terniloff looked after him curiously. 

"It is the type of young man, that, " he declared, "which we cannotunderstand. What would happen to him, in the event of a war? In theevent of his being called upon, say, either to fight or do some work ofnational importance for his country?"

"I expect he would do it, " Dominey replied. "He would do it pluckily, whole-heartedly and badly. He is a type of the upper-class youngEnglishman, over-sanguine and entirely undisciplined. They expect, andtheir country expects for them that in the case of emergency pluck wouldtake the place of training. "

The Right Honourable Gerald Watson stood upon the steps talking to thewife of the Italian Ambassador. She left him presently, and he camestrolling down the lawn with his hands behind his back and his eyesseeming to see out past the golf links. 

"There goes a man, " Terniloff murmured, "whom lately I have foundchanged. When I first came here he met me quite openly. I believe, evennow, he is sincerely desirous of peace and amicable relations betweenour two countries, and yet something has fallen between us. I cannottell what it is. I cannot tell even of what nature it is, but I have aninstinct for people's attitude towards me, and the English are the worstrace in the world at hiding their feelings. Has Mr. Watson, I wondercome under the spell of your connection, the Duke of Worcester? Heseemed so friendly with both of us down in Norfolk. "

Their womenkind left them at that moment to talk to some acquaintancesseated a short distance way. Mr. Watson, passing within a few yards ofthem, was brought to a standstill by Dominey's greeting. They talked fora moment or two upon idle subjects. 

"Your news, I trust, continues favourable?" the Ambassador remarked, observing the etiquette which required him to be the first to leave therealms of ordinary conversation. 

"It is a little negative in quality, " the other answered, after amoment's hesitation. "I am summoned to Downing Street again at sixo'clock. "

"I have already confided the result of my morning despatches to thePrime Minister, " Terniloff observed. 

"I went through them before I came down here, " was the somewhat doubtfulreply. 

"You will have appreciated, I hope, their genuinely pacific tone?"Terniloff asked anxiously. 

His interlocutor bowed and then drew himself up. It was obvious that thestrain of the last few days was telling upon him. There were lines abouthis mouth, and his eyes spoke of sleepless nights. 

"Words are idle things to deal with at a time like this, " he said. "Onething, however, I will venture to say to you, Prince, here and underthese circumstances. There will be no war unless it be the will of yourcountry. "

Terniloff was for a moment unusually pale. It was an episode ofunrecorded history. He rose to his feet and raised his hat. 

"There will be no war, " he said solemnly. 

The Cabinet Minister passed on with a lighter step. Dominey, moreclearly than ever before, understood the subtle policy which had chosenfor his great position a man as chivalrous and faithful and yet assimple-minded as Terniloff. He looked after the retreating figure of theCabinet Minister with a slight smile at the corner of his lips. 

"In a time like this, " he remarked significantly, "one beginsto understand why one of our great writers--was it Bernhardi, Iwonder?--has written that no island could ever breed a race ofdiplomatists. "

"The seas which engirdle this island, " the Ambassador said thoughtfully, "have brought the English great weal, as they may bring to her much woe. The too-nimble brain of the diplomat has its parallel of insincerity inthe people whose interests he seems to guard. I believe in the honestyof the English politicians, I have placed that belief on record in thesmall volume of memoirs which I shall presently entrust to you. Butwe talk too seriously for a summer afternoon. Let us illustrate to theworld our opinion of the political situation and play another nine holesat golf. "

Dominey rose willingly to his feet, and the two men strolled awaytowards the first tee. 

"By the by, " Terniloff asked, "what of our cheerful little friendSeaman? He ought to be busy just now. "

"Curiously enough, he is returning from Germany to-night, " Domineyannounced. "I expect him at Berkeley square. He is coming direct to me. "

CHAPTER XXVI

These were days, to all dwellers in London, of vivid impressions, ofpoignant memories, reasserting themselves afterwards with a curioussense of unreality, as though belonging to another set of days andanother world. Dominey long remembered his dinner that evening in thesombre, handsomely furnished dining-room of his town house in BerkeleySquare. Although it lacked the splendid proportions of the banquetinghall at Dominey, it was still a fine apartment, furnished in theGeorgian period, with some notable pictures upon the walls, and with awonderful ceiling and fireplace. Dominey and Rosamund dined alone, andthough the table had been reduced to its smallest proportions, the spacebetween them was yet considerable. As soon as Parkins had gravely putthe port upon the table, Rosamund rose to her feet and, instead ofleaving the room, pointed for the servant to place a chair for her byDominey's side. 

"I shall be like your men friends, Everard, " she declared, "when theladies have left, and draw up to your side. Now what do we do? Tellstories? I promise you that I will be a wonderful listener. "

"First of all you drink half a glass of this port, " he declared, fillingher glass, "then you peel me one of those peaches, and we divide it. After which we listen for a ring at the bell. To-night I expect avisitor. "

"A visitor?"

"Not a social one, " he assured her. "A matter of business which I fearwill take me from you for the rest of the evening. So let us make themost of the time until he comes. "

She commenced her task with the peach, talking to him all the time alittle gravely, a sweet and picturesque picture of a graceful and verydesirable woman, her delicate shape and artistic fragility more thanever accentuated by the sombreness of the background. 

"Do you know, Everard, " she said, "I am so happy in London herewith you, and I feel all the time so strong and well. I can read andunderstand the books which were a maze of print to me before. I cansee the things in the pictures, and feel the thrill of the music, whichseemed to come to me, somehow, before, all dislocated and discordant. You understand, dear?"

"Of course, " he answered gravely. 

"I do not wonder, " she went on, "that Doctor Harrison is proud of me fora patient, but there are many times when I feel a dull pain in my heart, because I know that, whatever he or anybody else might say, I am notquite cured. "

"Rosamund dear, " he protested. 

"Ah, but don't interrupt, " she insisted, depositing his share of thepeach upon his plate. "How can I be cured when all the time there is theproblem of you, the problem which I am just as far off solving as ever Iwas? Often I find myself comparing you with the Everard whom I married. "

"Do I fail so often to come up to his standard?" he asked. 

"You never fail, " she answered, looking at him with brimming eyes. "Of course, he was very much more affectionate, " she went on, after amoment's pause. "His kisses were not like yours. And he was far fonderof having me with him. Then, on the other hand, often when I wanted himhe was not there, he did wild things, mad things; he seemed to forgetme altogether. It was that, " she went on, "that was so terrible. It wasthat which made me so nervous. I think that I should even have been ableto stand those awful moments when he came back to me, covered with bloodand reeling, if it had not been that I was already almost a wreck. Youknow, he killed Roger Unthank that night. That is why he was never ableto come back. "

"Why do you talk of these things to-night, Rosamund, " Dominey begged. 

"I must, dear, " she insisted, laying her fingers upon his hand andlooking at him curiously. "I must, even though I see how they distressyou. It is wonderful that you should mind so much, Everard, but you do, and I love you for it. "

"Mind?" he groaned. "Mind!"

"You are so like him and yet so different, " she went on meditatively. "You drink so little wine, you are always so self-controlled, soserious. You live as though you had a life around you of which othersknew nothing. The Everard I remember would never have cared about beinga magistrate or going into Parliament. He would have spent his timeracing or yachting, hunting or shooting, as the fancy took him. Andyet--"

"And yet what?" Dominey asked, a little hoarsely. 

"I think he loved me better than you, " she said very sadly. 

"Why?" he demanded. 

"I cannot tell you, " she answered, with her eyes upon her plate, "but Ithink that he did. "

Dominey walked suddenly to the window and leaned out. There were dropsof moisture upon his forehead, he felt the fierce need of air. When hecame back she was still sitting there, still looking down. 

"I have spoken to Doctor Harrison about it, " she went on, her voicescarcely audible. "He told me that you probably loved more than youdared to show, because someday the real Everard might come back. "

"That is quite true, " he reminded her softly. "He may come back at anymoment. "

She gripped his hand, her voice shook with passion. She leaned towardshim, her other arm stole around his neck. 

"But I don't want him to come back!" she cried. "I want you!"

Dominey sat for a moment motionless, like a figure of stone. Through thewide-flung, blind-shielded windows came the raucous cry of a newsboy, breaking the stillness of the summer evening. And then another andsharper interruption, --the stopping of a taxicab outside, the firm, insistent ringing of the front doorbell. Recollection came to Dominey, and a great strength. The fire which had leaped up within him was thrustback. His response to her wave of passion was infinitely tender. 

"Dear Rosamund, " he said, "that front doorbell summons me to rather animportant interview. Will you please trust in me a little while longer?Believe me, I am not in any way cold. I am not indifferent. There issomething which you will have to be told, --something with which I neverreckoned, something which is beginning to weigh upon me night and day. Trust me, Rosamund, and wait!"

She sank back into her chair with a piquant and yet pathetic littlegrimace. 

"You tell me always to wait, " she complained. "I will be patient, butyou shall tell me this. You are so kind to me. You make or mar my life. You must care a little? Please?"

He was standing up now. He kissed her hands fondly. His voice had allthe old ring in it. 

"More than for any woman on earth, dear Rosamund!"

Seaman, in a light grey suit, a panama, and a white beflowered tie, hadlost something of the placid urbanity of a few months ago. He was hotand tired with travel. There were new lines in his face and a queerexpression of anxiety about his eyes, at the corners of which littlewrinkles had begun to appear. He responded to Dominey's welcome with afervour which was almost feverish, scrutinised him closely, as thoughexpecting to find some change, and finally sank into an easy-chair witha little gesture of relief. He had been carrying a small, brown despatchcase, which he laid on the carpet by his side. 

"You have news?" Dominey asked. 

"Yes, " was the momentous reply, "I have news. "

Dominey rang the bell. He had already surmised, from the dressing-caseand coats in the hall, that his visitor had come direct from thestation. 

"What will you have?" he enquired. 

"A bottle of hock with seltzer water, and ice if you have it, " Seamanreplied. "Also a plate of cold meat, but it must be served here. And afterwards the biggest cigar you have. I have indeed news, newsdisturbing, news magnificent, news astounding. "

Dominey gave some orders to the servant who answered his summons. For afew moments they spoke trivialities of the journey. When everything wasserved, however, and the door closed, Seaman could wait no longer. Hisappetite, his thirst, his speech, seemed all stimulated to swift action. 

"We are of the same temperament, " he said. "That I know. We will speakfirst of what is more than disturbing--a little terrifying. The mysteryof Johann Wolff has been solved. "

"The man who came to us with messages from Schmidt in South Africa?"Dominey asked. "I had almost forgotten about him. "

"The same. What was at the back of his visit to us that night I cannoteven now imagine. Neither is it clear why he held aloof from me, whoam his superior in practically the same service. There we are, from thecommencement, confronted with a very singular happening, but scarcelyso singular as the denouement. Wolff vanished from your house that nightinto an English fortress. "

"It seems incredible, " Dominey declared bluntly. 

"It is nevertheless true, " Seaman insisted. "No member of our serviceis allowed to remain more than one month without communicating hisexistence and whereabouts to headquarters. No word has been receivedfrom Wolff since that night in January. On the other hand, indirectinformation has reached us that he is in durance over here. "

"But such a thing is against the law, unheard of, " Dominey protested. "No country can keep the citizen of another country in prison withoutformulating a definite charge or bringing him up for trial. "

Seaman smiled grimly. 

"That's all very well in any ordinary case, " he said. "Wolff has beena marked man for years, though. Wilhelmstrasse would soon make fussenough, if it were of any use, but it would not be. There are one ortwo Englishmen in German prisons at the present moment, concerning whosewelfare the English Foreign Office has not even thought it worth whileto enquire. What troubles me more than the actual fact of Wolff'sdisappearance is the mystery of his visit to you and his apprehensionpractically on the spot. "

"They must have tracked him down there, " Dominey remarked. 

"Yes, but they couldn't thrust a pair of tongs into your butler'ssitting-room, extract Johann Wolff, and set him down inside NorwichCastle or whatever prison he may be in, " Seaman objected. "However, themost disquieting feature about Wolff is that it introduces something wedon't understand. For the rest, we have many men as good, and better, and the time for their utility is past. You are our great hope now, Dominey. "

"It is to be, then?"

Seaman took a long and ecstatic draught of his hock and seltzer. 

"It is to be, " he declared solemnly. "There was never any doubt aboutit. If Russia ceases to mobilise to-morrow, if every statesman in Serviacrawls to Vienna with a rope around his neck, the result would stillbe the same. The word has gone out. The whole of Germany is like a vastmilitary camp. It comes exactly twelve months before the final dayfixed by our great authorities, but the opportunity is too great, toowonderful for hesitation. By the end of August we shall be in Paris. "

"You bring news indeed!" Dominey murmured, standing for a moment by theopened window. 

"I have been received with favour in the very loftiest circles, " Seamancontinued. "You and I both stand high in the list of those to whom greatrewards shall come. His Majesty approves altogether of your reluctanceto avail yourself of his permission to wed the Princess Eiderstrom. 'VonRagastein has decided well, ' he declared. 'These are not the days formarriage or giving in marriage. These, the most momentous days the worldhas ever known, the days when an empire shall spring into being, themightiest since the Continents fell into shape and the stars looked downupon this present world. ' Those are the words of the All Highest. Inhis eyes the greatest of all attributes is singleness of purpose. You followed your own purpose, contrary to my advice, contrary toTerniloff's. You will gain by it. "

Seaman finished his meal in due course, and the tray was removed. Soonthe two men were alone again, Seaman puffing out dense volumes of smoke, gripping his cigar between his teeth, brandishing it sometimes in hishand to give effect to his words. A little of his marvellous cautionseemed to have deserted him. For the first time he spoke directly to hiscompanion. 

"Von Ragastein, " he said, "it is a great country, ours. It is awonderful empire we shall build. To-night I am on fire with the mightythings. I have a list of instructions for you, many details. They canwait. We will talk of our future, our great and glorious destiny as themightiest nation who has ever earned for herself the right to govern theworld. You would think that in Germany there was excitement. There isnone. The task of every one is allotted, their work made clear to them. Like a mighty piece of gigantic machinery, we move towards war. Everyregiment knows its station, every battery commander knows his positions, every general knows his exact line of attack. Rations, clothing, hospitals, every unit of which you can think, has its movementscalculated out for it to the last nicety. "

"And the final result?" Dominey asked. "Is that also calculated?"

Seaman, with trembling fingers, unlocked the little despatch box whichstood by his side and took from it jealously a sheet of linen-backedparchment. 

"You, my friend, " he said, "are one of the first to gaze upon this. Thiswill show you the dream of our Kaiser. This will show you the frameworkof the empire that is to be. "

He laid out a map upon the table. The two men bent over it. It was a mapof Europe, in which England, a diminished France, Spain, Portugal andItaly, were painted in dark blue. For the rest, the whole of the spaceincluded between two liens, one from Hamburg to Athens, the other fromFinland to the Black Sea, was painted a deep scarlet, with here andthere portions of it in slightly lighter colouring. Seaman laid his palmupon the map. 

"There lies our future Empire, " he said solemnly and impressively. 

"Explain it to me, " Dominey begged. 

"Broadly speaking, everything between those two lines belongs to the newGerman Empire. Poland, Courland, Lithuania, and the Ukraine will possessa certain degree of autonomous government, which will practically amountto nothing. Asia is there at our feet. No longer will Great Britaincontrol the supplies of the world. Raw materials of every descriptionwill be ours. Leather, tallow, wheat, oil, fats, timber--they are allthere for us to draw upon. And for wealth--India and China! What morecould you have, my friend?"

"You take my breath away. But what about Austria?"

Seaman's grin was almost sardonic. 

"Austria, " he said, "must already feel her doom creeping upon her. Thereis no room in middle Europe for two empires, and the House of Hapsburgmust fall before the House of Hohenzollern. Austria, body and soul, mustbecome part of the German Empire. Then further down, mark you. Roumaniamust become a vassal state or be conquered. Bulgaria is already ours. Turkey, with Constantinople, is pledged. Greece will either join usor be wiped out. Servia will be blotted from the map; probably alsoMontenegro. These countries which are painted in fainter red, likeTurkey, Bulgaria and Greece, become vassal states, to be absorbed one byone as opportunity presents itself. "

Dominey's finger strayed northward. 

"Belgium, " he observed, "has disappeared. "

"Belgium we shall occupy and enslave, " Seaman replied. "Our line ofadvance into France lies that way, and we need her ports to dominate theThames. Holland and the Scandinavian countries, as you observe areleft in the lighter shade of red. If an opportunity occurs, Holland andDenmark may be incited to take the field against us. If they do so, it means absorption. If they remain, as they probably will, scaredneutrals, they will none the less be our vassal states when the last gunhas been fired. "

"And Norway and Sweden?"

Seaman looked down at the map and smiled. 

"Look at them, " he said. "They lie at our mercy. Norway has her westernseaboard, and there might always be the question of British aid so faras she is concerned. But Sweden is ours, body and soul. More than anyother of these vassal states, it is our master's plan to bring her intocomplete subjection. We need her lusty manhood, the finest cannon foodin the world, for later wars, if indeed such a thing should be. She hastimber and minerals which we also need. But there--it is enough. Firstof all men in this country, my friend, you Von Ragastein, have gazedupon this picture of the future. "

"This is marvellously conceived, " Dominey muttered, "but what of Russianwith her millions? How is it that we propose, notwithstanding hercountless millions of men, to help ourselves to her richest provinces, to drive a way through the heart of her empire?"

"This, " Seaman replied, "is where genius steps in. Russia has been ripefor a revolution any time for the last fifteen years. We have secretagents now in every city and country place and throughout the army. Weshall teach Russia how to make herself a free country. "

Dominey shivered a little with an almost involuntary repulsion. For thesecond time that almost satyr-like grin on Seaman's face revolted him. 

"And what of my own work?"

Seaman helped himself to a liqueur. He was, as a rule, a moderate man, but this was the third time he had replenished his glass since his hastymeal. 

"My brain is weary, friend, " he admitted, passing his hand over hisforehead. "I have a great fatigue. The thoughts jump about. This lastweek has been one of fierce excitements. Everything, almost yourdaily life, has been planned. We shall go over it within a day or so. Meanwhile, remember this. It is our great aim to keep England out of thewar. "

"Terniloff is right, then, after all!" Dominey exclaimed. 

Seaman laughed scornfully. 

"If we want England out of the war, " he pointed out, "it is not that wedesire her friendship. It is that we may crush her the more easilywhen Calais, Boulogne and Havre are in our hands. That will be in threemonths' time. Then perhaps our attitude towards England may change alittle! Now I go. "

Dominey folded up the map with reluctance. His companion shook his head. It was curious that he, too, for the first time in his life upon thesame day, addressed his host differently. 

"Baron Von Ragastein, " he said, "there are six of those maps inexistence. That one is for you. Lock it away and guard it as though itwere your greatest treasure on earth, but when you are alone, bring itout and study it. It shall be your inspiration, it shall lighten yourmoments of depression, give you courage when you are in danger; it shallfill your mind with pride and wonder. It is yours. "

Dominey folded it carefully up, crossed the room, unlocked a little safeand deposited it therein. 

"I shall guard it, according to your behest, as my greatest treasure, "he assured his departing guest, with a fervour which surprised evenhimself. 

CHAPTER XXVII

There was something dramatic, in the most lurid sense of the word, aboutthe brief telephone message which Dominey received, not so many hourslater, from Carlton House Terrace. In a few minutes he was movingthrough the streets, still familiar yet already curiously changed. Men and women were going about their business as usual, but an air ofstupefaction was everywhere apparent. Practically every loiterer wasstudying a newspaper, every chance acquaintance had stopped toconfer with his fellows. War, alternately the joke and bogey of theconversationalist, stretched her grey hands over the sunlit city. Eventhe lightest-hearted felt a thrill of apprehension at the thought of thehorrors that were to come. In a day or two all this was to be changed. People went about then counting the Russian millions; the steamrollerfetish was to be evolved. The most peaceful stockbroker or shopkeeper, who had never even been to a review in his life, could make calculationsof man power with a stump of pencil on the back of an old envelope, which would convince the greatest pessimist that Germany and Austriawere outnumbered by at least three to one. But on this particularmorning, people were too stunned for calculations. The incredible hadhappened. The long-discussed war--the nightmare of the nervous, thederision of the optimist--had actually materialised. The happy-go-luckyears of peace and plenty had suddenly come to an end. Black tragedyleaned over the land. 

Dominey, avoiding acquaintances as far as possible, his own mind in acurious turmoil, passed down St. James's Street and along Pall Mall andpresented himself at Carlton House Terrace. Externally, the greatwhite building, with its rows of flower boxes, showed no signs of undueperturbation. Inside, however, the anteroom was crowded with callers, and it was only by the intervention of Terniloff's private secretary, who was awaiting him, that Dominey was able to reach the innersanctum where the Ambassador was busy dictating letters. He broke offimmediately his visitor was announced and dismissed every one, includinghis secretaries. Then he locked the door. 

"Von Ragastein, " he groaned, "I am a broken man!"

Dominey grasped his hand sympathetically. Terniloff seemed to have agedyears even in the last few hours. 

"I sent for you, " he continued, "to say farewell, to say farewell andmake a confession. You were right, and I was wrong. It would have betterif I had remained and played the country farmer on my estates. I wasnever shrewd enough to see until now that I have been made the cat's-pawof the very men whose policy I always condemned. "

His visitor still remained silent. There was so little that he couldsay. 

"I have worked for peace, " Terniloff went on, "believing that my countrywanted peace. I have worked for peace with honourable men who were justas anxious as I was to secure it. But all the time those for whom Ilaboured were making faces behind my back. I was nothing more norless than their tool. I know now that nothing in this world could havehindered what is coming. "

"Every one will at least realise, " Dominey reminded him, "that you didyour best for peace. "

"That is one reason why I sent for you, " was the agitated reply. "Notlong ago I spoke of a little volume, a diary which I have been keepingof my work in this country. I promised to show it to you. You have askedme for it several times lately. I am going to show it to you now. It iswritten up to yesterday. It will tell you of all my efforts and how theywere foiled. It is an absolutely faithful narrative of my work here, andthe English response to it. "

The Prince crossed the room, unlocked one of the smaller safes, whichstood against the side of the wall, withdrew a morocco-bound volume thesize of a small portfolio, and returned to Dominey. 

"I beg you, " he said earnestly, "to read this with the utmost care andto await my instructions with regard to it. You can judge, no doubt, "he went on a little bitterly, "why I give it into your keeping. Even theEmbassy here is not free from our own spies, and the existence of thesememoirs is known. The moment I reach Germany, their fate is assured. Iam a German and a patriot, although my heart is bitter against those whoare bringing this blot upon our country. For that reason, these memoirsmust be kept in a safe place until I see a good use for them. "

"You mean if the governing party in German should change?"

"Precisely! They would then form at once my justification, and placeEnglish diplomacy in such a light before the saner portion of my fellowcountrymen that an honourable peace might be rendered possible. Studythem carefully, Von Ragastein. Perhaps even your own allegiance to theParty you serve may waver for a moment as you read. "

"I serve no Party, " Dominey said quietly, "only my Country. "

Terniloff sighed. 

"Alas! there is no time for us to enter into one of our old arguments onthe ethics of government. I must send you away, Von Ragastein. You havea terrible task before you. I am bound to wish you Godspeed. For myselfI shall not raise my head again until I have left England. "

"There is no other commission?" Dominey asked. "No other way in which Ican serve you?"

"None, " Terniloff answered sadly. "I am permitted to suffer noinconveniences. My departure is arranged for as though I were royalty. Yet believe me, my friend, every act of courtesy and generosity which Ireceive in these moments, bites into my heart. Farewell!"

Dominey found a taxicab in Pall Mall and drove back to Berkeley Square. He found Rosamund with a little troop of dogs, just entering thegardens, and crossed to her side. 

"Dear, " he asked, taking her arm, "would you mind very much coming downto Norfolk for a few days?"

"With you?" she asked quickly. 

"Yes! I want to be in retreat for a short time. There are one or twothings I must settle before I take up some fresh work. "

"I should love it, " she declared enthusiastically. "London is getting sohot, and every one is so excited. "

"I shall order the touring car at three o'clock, " Dominey told her. "Weshall get home about nine. Parkins and your maid can go down by train. Does that suit you?"

"Delightfully!"

He took her arm and they paced slowly along the hot walk. 

"Rosamund dear, " he said, "the time has come which many people have beendreading. We are at war. "

"I know, " she murmured. 

"You and I have had quite a happy time together, these last few months, "he went on, "even though there is still that black cloud between us. Ihave tried to treat you as kindly and tenderly as though I were reallyyour husband and you were indeed my wife. "

"You're not going away?" she cried, startled. "I couldn't bear that! Noone could ever be so sweet as you have been to me. "

"Dear, " he said, "I want you to think--of your husband--of Everard. Hewas a soldier once for a short time, was he not? What do you think hewould have done now that this terrible war has come?"

"He would have done what you will do, " she answered, with the slightestpossible tremor in her tone. "He would have become a soldier again, hewould have fought for his country. "

"And so must I--fight for my country, " he declared. "That is why I mustleave you for an hour now while I make some calls. I shall be backto luncheon. Directly afterwards we must start. I have many things toarrange first, though. Life is not going to be very easy for the nextfew days. "

She held on to his arm. She seemed curiously reluctant to let him go. 

"Everard, " she said, "when we are at Dominey shall I be able to seeDoctor Harrison?"

"Of course, " he assured her. 

"There is something I want to say to him, " she confided, "something Iwant to ask you, too. Are you the same person, Everard, when you are intown as when you are in the country?"

He was a little taken aback at her question--asked, too, with suchalmost plaintive seriousness. The very aberration it suggested seemedaltogether denied by her appearance. She was wearing a dress of blackand white muslin, a large black hat, Paris shoes. Her stockings, hergloves, all the trifling details of her toilette, were carefully chosen, and her clothes themselves gracefully and naturally worn. Socially, too, she had been amazingly successful. Only the week before, Caroline hadcome to him with a little shrug of the shoulders. 

"I have been trying to be kind to Rosamund, " she said, "and findingout instead how unnecessary it is. She is quite the most popular of theyounger married women in our set. You don't deserve such luck, Everard. "

"You know the proverb about the old roue, " he had replied. 

His mind had wandered for a moment. He realised Rosamund's question witha little start. 

"The same person, dear?" he repeated. "I think so. Don't I seem so toyou?"

She shook her head. 

"I am not sure, " she answered, a little mysteriously. "You see, in thecountry I still remember sometimes that awful night when I so nearlylost my reason. I have never seen you as you looked that night. "

"You would rather not go back, perhaps?"

"That is the strange part of it, " she replied. "There is nothing in theworld I want so much to do. There's an empty taxi, dear, " she added, as they reached the gate. "I shall go in and tell Justine about thepacking. "

CHAPTER XXVIII

Within the course of the next few days, a strange rumour spread throughDominey and the district, --from the farm labourer to the farmer, fromthe school children to their homes, from the village post-office to theneighbouring hamlets. A gang of woodmen from a neighbouring county, with an engine and all the machinery of their craft, had started to workrazing to the ground everything in the shape of tree or shrub atthe north end of the Black Wood. The matter of the war was promptlyforgotten. Before the second day, every man, woman and child in theplace had paid an awed visit to the outskirts of the wood, had listenedto the whirr of machinery, had gazed upon the great bridge of planksleading into the wood, had peered, in the hope of some strange discoveryinto the tents of the men who were camping out. The men themselves werenot communicative, and the first time the foreman had been known toopen his mouth was when Dominey walked down to discuss progress, on themorning after his arrival. 

"It's a dirty bit of work, sir, " he confided. "I don't know as I evercame across a bit of woodland as was so utterly, hopelessly rotten. Why, the wood crumbles when you touch it, and the men have to be within reachof one another the whole of the time, though we've a matter of fivehundred planks down there. "

"Come across anything unusual yet?"

"We ain't come across anything that isn't unusual so far, sir. My menare all wearing extra leggings to keep them from being bitten by themadders--as long as my arm, some of 'em. And there's fungus there which, when you touch it, sends out a smell enough to make a man faint. Wekilled a cat the first day, as big and as fierce as a young tigress. It's a queer job, sir. "

"How long will it take?"

"Matter of three weeks, sir, and when we've got the timber out you'll bewell advised to burn it. It's not worth a snap of the fingers. --Beggingyour pardon, sir, " the man went on, "the old lady in the distance therehangs about the whole of the time. Some of my men are half scared ofher. "

Dominey swung around. On a mound a little distance away in the park, Rachael Unthank was standing. In her rusty black clothes, unrelievedby any trace of colour, her white cheeks and strange eyes, even in themorning light she was a repellent figure. Dominey strolled across toher. 

"You see, Mrs. Unthank, " he began--

She interrupted him. Her skinny hand was stretched out towards the wood. 

"What are those men doing, Sir Everard Dominey?" she demanded. "What isyour will with the wood?"

"I am carrying out a determination I came to in the winter, " Domineyreplied. "Those men are going to cut and hew their way from one end ofthe Black Wood to the other, until not a tree or a bush remains upright. As they cut, they burn. Afterwards, I shall have it drained. We may liveto see a field of corn there, Mrs. Unthank. "

"You will dare to do this?" she asked hoarsely. 

"Will you dare to tell me why I should not, Mrs. Unthank?"

She relapsed into silence, and Dominey passed on. But that night, asRosamund and he were lingering over their dessert, enjoying the strangequiet and the wonderful breeze which crept in at the open window, Parkins announced a visitor. 

"Mrs. Unthank is in the library, sir, " he announced. "She would be gladif you could spare her five minutes. "

Rosamund shivered slightly, but nodded as Dominey glanced towards herenquiringly. 

"Don't let me see her, please, " she begged. "You must go, ofcourse. --Everard!"

"Yes, dear?"

"I know what you are doing out there, although you have never said aword to me about it, " she continued, with an odd little note of passionin her tone. "Don't let her persuade you to stop. Let them cut and burnand hew till there isn't room for a mouse to hide. You promise?"

"I promise, " he answered. 

Mrs. Unthank was making every effort to keep under control her fiercediscomposure. She rose as Dominey entered the room and dropped anold-fashioned curtsey. 

"Well, Mrs. Unthank, " he enquired, "what can I do for you?"

"It's about the wood again, sir, " she confessed. "I can't bear it. Allnight long I seem to hear those axes, and the calling of the men. "

"What is your objection, Mrs. Unthank, to the destruction of the BlackWood?" Dominey asked bluntly. "It is nothing more nor less than anoisome pest-hole. Its very presence there, after all that she hassuffered, is a menace to Lady Dominey's nerves. I am determined to sweepit from the face of the earth. "

The forced respect was already beginning to disappear from her manner. 

"There's evil will come to you if you do, Sir Everard, " she declareddoggedly. 

"Plenty of evil has come to me from that wood as it is, " he remindedher. 

"You mean to disturb the spirit of him whose body you threw there?" shepersisted. 

Dominey looked at her calmly. Some sort of evil seemed to have lit inher face. Her lips had shrunk apart, showing her yellow teeth. The firein her narrowed eyes was the fire of hatred. 

"I am no murderer, Mrs. Unthank, " he said. "Your son stole out from theshadow of that wood, attacked me in a cowardly manner, and we fought. He was mad when he attacked me, he fought like a madman, and, notwithstanding my superior strength, I was glad to get away alive. Inever touched his body. It lay where he fell. If he crept into the woodand died there, then his death was not at my door. He sought for my lifeas I never sought for his. "

"You'd done him wrong, " the woman muttered. 

"That again is false. His passion for Lady Dominey was uninvited andunreciprocated. Her only feeling concerning him was one of fear; thatthe whole countryside knows. Your son was a lonely, a morose and anill-living man, Mrs. Unthank. If either of us had murder in our hearts, it was he, not I. And as for you, " Dominey went on, after a moment'spause, "I think that you have had your revenge, Mrs. Unthank. It was youwho nursed my wife into insanity. It was you who fed her with thehorror of your son's so-called spirit. I think that if I had stayed awayanother two years, Lady Dominey would have been in a mad-house to-day. "

"I would to Heaven!" the woman cried, "that you'd rotted to death inAfrica!"

"You carry your evil feelings far, Mrs. Unthank, " he replied. "Take myadvice. Give up this foolish idea that the Black Wood is still the homeof your son's spirit. Go and live on your annuity in another part of thecountry and forget. "

He moved across the room to throw open a window. Her eyes followed himwonderingly. 

"I have heard a rumour, " she said slowly; "there has been a word spokenhere and there about you. I've had my doubts sometimes. I have themagain every time you speak. Are you really Everard Dominey?"

He swung around and faced her. 

"Who else?"

"There's one, " she went on, "has never believed it, and that's herladyship. I've heard strange talk from the people who've come under yourmasterful ways. You're a harder man than the Everard Dominey I remember. What if you should be an impostor?"

"You have only to prove that, Mrs. Unthank, " Dominey replied, "and aportion, at any rate, of the Black Wood may remain standing. You willfind it a little difficult, though. --You must excuse my ringing thebell. I see no object in asking you to remain longer. "

She rose unwillingly to her feet. Her manner was sullen and unyielding. 

"You are asking for the evil things, " she warned him. 

"Be assured, " Dominey answered, "that if they come I shall know how todeal with them. "

Dominey found Rosamund and Doctor Harrison, who had walked over from thevillage, lingering on the terrace. He welcomed the latter warmly. 

"You are a godsend, Doctor, " he declared. "I have been obliged to leavemy port untasted for want of a companion. You will excuse us for amoment Rosamund?"

She nodded pleasantly, and the doctor followed his host into thedining-room and took his seat at the table where the dessert stillremained. 

"Old woman threatening mischief?" the latter asked, with a keen glancefrom under his shaggy grey eyebrows. 

"I think she means it, " Dominey replied, as he filled his guest's glass. "Personally, " he went on, after a moment's pause, "the present situationis beginning to confirm an old suspicion of mine. I am a hard and fastmaterialist, you know, Doctor, in certain matters, and I have not theslightest faith in the vindictive mother, terrified to death lest therazing of a wood of unwholesome character should turn out into the coldworld the spirit of her angel son. "

"What do you believe?" the doctor asked bluntly. 

"I would rather not tell you at the present moment, " Dominey answered. "It would sound too fantastic. "

"Your note this afternoon spoke of urgency, " the doctor observed. 

"The matter is urgent. I want you to do me a great favour--to remainhere all night. "

"You are expecting something to happen?"

"I wish, at any rate, to be prepared. "

"I'll stay, with pleasure, " the doctor promised. "You can lend me someparaphernalia, I suppose? And give me a shake-down somewhere near LadyDominey's. By-the-by, " he began, and hesitated. 

"I have followed your advice, or rather your orders, " Domineyinterrupted, a little harshly. "It has not always been easy, especiallyin London, where Rosamund is away from these associations. --I am hopinggreat things from what may happen to-night, or very soon. "

The doctor nodded sympathetically. 

"I shouldn't wonder if you weren't on the right track, " he declared. 

Rosamund came in through the window to them and seated herself byDominey's side. 

"Why are you two whispering like conspirators?" she demanded. 

"Because we are conspirators, " he replied lightly. "I have persuadedDoctor Harrison to stay the night. He would like a room in our wing. Will you let the maids know, dear?"

She nodded thoughtfully. 

"Of course! There are several rooms quite ready. Mrs. Midgeley thoughtthat we might be bringing down some guests. I am quite sure that we canmake Doctor Harrison comfortable. "

"No doubt about that, Lady Dominey, " the doctor declared. "Let me be asnear to your apartment as possible. "

There was a shade of anxiety in her face. 

"You think that to-night something will happen?" she asked. 

"To-night, or one night very soon, " Dominey assented. "It is just aswell for you to be prepared. You will not be afraid, dear? You will havethe doctor on one side of you and me on the other. "

"I am only afraid of one thing, " she answered a little enigmatically. "Ihave been so happy lately. "

Dominey, changed into ordinary morning clothes, with a thick cord tiedround his body, a revolver in his pocket, and a loaded stick in hishand, spent the remainder of the night and part of the early morningconcealed behind a great clump of rhododendrons, his eyes fixed upon theshadowy stretch of park which lay between the house and the Black Wood. The night was moonless but clear, and when his eyes were once accustomedto the pale but sombre twilight, the whole landscape and the movingobjects upon it were dimly visible. The habits of his years of bushlife seemed instinctively, in those few hours of waiting, to havereestablished themselves. Every sense was strained and active; everynight sound--of which the hooting of some owls, disturbed from theirlurking place in the Black Wood, was predominant--heard and accountedfor. And then, just as he had glanced at his watch and found that it wasclose upon two o'clock, came the first real intimation that somethingwas likely to happen. Moving across the park towards him he heard thesound of a faint patter, curious and irregular in rhythm, which camefrom behind a range of low hillocks. He raised himself on his hands andknees to watch. His eyes were fastened upon a certain spot, --a stretchof the open park between himself and the hillocks. The patter ceased andbegan again. Into the open there came a dark shape, the irregularity ofits movements swiftly explained. It moved at first upon all fours, thenon two legs, then on all fours again. It crept nearer and nearer, andDominey, as he watched, laid aside his stick. It reached the terrace, paused beneath Rosamund's window, now barely half a dozen yards fromwhere he was crouching. Deliberately he waited, waited for what he knewmust soon come. Then the deep silence of the breathless night was brokenby that familiar, unearthly scream. Dominey waited till even its echoeshad died away. Then he ran a few steps, bent double, and stretched outhis hands. Once more, for the last time, that devil's cry broke the deepstillness of the August morning, throbbing a little as though with a newfear, dying away as though the fingers which crushed it back down thestraining throat had indeed crushed with it the last flicker of someunholy life. 

When Doctor Harrison made his hurried appearance, a few moments later, he found Dominey seated upon the terrace, furiously smoking a cigarette. On the ground, a few yards away, lay something black and motionless. 

"What is it?" the doctor gasped. 

For the first time Dominey showed some signs of a lack of self-control. His voice was choked and uneven. 

"Go and look at it, Doctor, " he said. "It's tied up, hand and foot. Youcan see where the spirit of Roger Unthank has hidden itself. "

"Bosh!" the doctor answered, with grim contempt. "It's Roger Unthankhimself. The beast!"

A little stream of servants came running out. Dominey gave a few ordersquickly. 

"Ring up the garage, " he directed, "and I shall want one of the men togo into Norwich to the hospital. Doctor, will you go up and see LadyDominey?"

The habits of a lifetime broke down. Parkins, the immaculate, thesilent, the perfect automaton, asked an eager question. 

"What is it, sir?"

There was the sound of a window opening overhead. At that moment Parkinswould not have asked in vain for an annuity. Dominey glanced at thelittle semicircle of servants and raised his voice. 

"It is the end, I trust, of these foolish superstitions about RogerUnthank's ghost. There lies Roger Unthank, half beast, half man. Forsome reason or other--some lunatic's reason, of course--he has chosen tohide himself in the Black Wood all these years. His mother, I presume, has been his accomplice and taken him food. He is still alive but in adisgusting state. "

There was a little awed murmur. Dominey's voice had become quite matterof fact. 

"I suppose, " he continued, "his first idea was to revenge himself uponus and this household, by whom he imagined himself badly treated. Theman, however, was half a madman when he came to the neighbourhood andhas behaved like one ever since. --Johnson, " Dominey continued, singlingout a sturdy footman with sound common sense, "get ready to take thiscreature into Norwich Hospital. Say that if I do not come in during theday, a letter of explanation will follow from me. The rest of you, withthe exception of Parkins, please go to bed. "

With little exclamations of wonder they began to disperse. Then oneof them paused and pointed across the park. Moving with incredibleswiftness came the gaunt, black figure of Rachael Unthank, swayingsometimes on her feet, yet in their midst before they could realise it. She staggered to the prostrate body and threw herself upon her knees. Her hands rested upon the unseen face, her eyes glared across atDominey. 

"So you've got him at last!" she gasped. 

"Mrs. Unthank, " Dominey said sternly, "you are in time to accompany yourson to the hospital at Norwich. The car will be here in two minutes. I have nothing to say to you. Your own conscience should be sufficientpunishment for keeping that poor creature alive in such a fashion andministering during my absence to his accursed desire for vengeance. "

"He would have died if I hadn't brought him food, " she muttered. "I havewept all the tears a woman's broken heart could wring out, beseechinghim to come back to me. "

"Yet, " Dominey insisted, "you shared his foul plot for vengeance againsta harmless woman. You let him come and make his ghoulish noises, nightby night, under these windows, without a word of remonstrance. You knewvery well what their accursed object was--you, with a delicate woman inyour charge who trusted you. You are an evil pair, but of the two youare worse than your half-witted son. "

The woman made no reply. She was still on her knees, bending over theprostrate figure, from whose lips now came a faint moaning. Then thelights of the car flashed out as it left the garage, passed through theiron gates and drew up a few yards away. 

"Help him in, " Dominey ordered. "You can loosen his cords, Johnson, assoon as you have started. He has very little strength. Tell them at thehospital I shall probably be there during the day, or to-morrow. "

With a little shiver the two men stooped to their task. Their prisonermuttered to himself all the time, but made no resistance. RachaelUnthank, as she stepped in to take her place by his side, turned oncemore to Dominey. She was a broken woman. 

"You're rid of us, " she sobbed, "perhaps forever. --You've said harshthings of both of us. Roger isn't always--so bad. Sometimes he's moregentle than at others. You'd have thought then that he was just a baby, living there for love of the wind and the trees and the birds. If hecomes to--"

Her voice broke. Dominey's reply was swift and not unkind. He pointed tothe window above. 

"If Lady Dominey recovers, you and your son are forgiven. If she neverrecovers, I wish you both the blackest corner of hell. "

The car drove off. Doctor Harrison met Dominey on the threshold as heturned towards the house. 

"Her ladyship is unconscious now, " he announced. "Perhaps that is a goodsign. I never liked that unnatural calm. She'll be unconscious, I think, for a great many hours. For God's sake, come and get a whisky and sodaand give me one!"

The early morning sunshine lay upon the park when the two men at lastseparated. They stood for a moment looking out. From the Black Wood camethe whirr of a saw. The little troop of men had left their tents. Thecrash of a fallen tree heralded their morning's work. 

"You are still going on with that?" the doctor asked. 

"To the very last stump of a tree, to the last bush, to the last clusterof weeds, " Dominey replied, with a sudden passion in his tone. "I willhave that place razed to the bare level of the earth, and I will haveits poisonous swamps sucked dry. I have hated that foul spot, " he wenton, "ever since I realised what suffering it meant to her. My reign heremay not be long, Doctor--I have my own tragedy to deal with--but thosewho come after me will never feel the blight of that accursed place. "

The doctor grunted. His inner thoughts he kept to himself. 

"Maybe you're right, " he conceded. 

CHAPTER XXIX

The heat of a sulphurous afternoon--a curious parallel in its presageof coming storm to the fast-approaching crisis in Dominey's ownaffairs--had driven Dominey from his study on to the terrace. In a chairby his side lounged Eddy Pelham, immaculate in a suit of white flannels. It was the fifth day since the mystery of the Black Wood had beensolved. 

"Ripping, old chap, of you to have me down here, " the young man remarkedamiably, his hand stretching out to a tumbler which stood by his side. "The country, when you can get ice, is a paradise in this weather, especially when London's so full of ghastly rumours and all that sort ofthing. What's the latest news of her ladyship?"

"Still unconscious, " Dominey replied. "The doctors, however, seemperfectly satisfied. Everything depends on her waking moments. "

The young man abandoned the subject with a murmur of hopeful sympathy. His eyes were fixed upon a little cloud of dust in the distance. 

"Expecting visitors to-day?" he asked. 

"Should not be surprised, " was the somewhat laconic answer. 

The young man stood up, yawned and stretched himself. 

"I'll make myself scarce, " he said. "Jove!" he added approvingly, lingering for a moment. "Jolly well cut, the tunic of your uniform, Dominey! If a country in peril ever decides to waive the matter of myindifferent physique and send me out to the rescue, I shall go to yourman. "

Dominey smiled. 

"Mine is only the local Yeomanry rig-out, " he replied. "They will nabyou for the Guards!"

Dominey stepped back through the open windows into his study as Pelhamstrolled off. He was seated at his desk, poring over some letters, when a few minutes later Seaman was ushered into the room. For a singlemoment his muscles tightened, his frame became tense. Then he realisedhis visitor's outstretched hands of welcome and he relaxed. Seaman wasperspiring, vociferous and excited. 

"At last!" He exclaimed. "Donner und!--My God Dominey, what is this?"

"Thirteen years ago, " Dominey explained, "I resigned a commission in theNorfolk Yeomanry. That little matter, however, has been adjusted. At acrisis like this--"

"My friend, you are wonderful!" Seaman interrupted solemnly. "You are aman after my own heart, you are thorough, you leave nothing undone. Thatis why, " he added, lowering his voice a little, "we are the greatestrace in the world. Drink before everything, my friend, " he went on, "drink I must have. What a day! The very clouds that hide the sun arefull of sulphurous heat. "

Dominey rang the bell, ordered hock and seltzer and ice. Seaman drankand threw himself into an easy-chair. 

"There is no fear of your being called out of the country because ofthat, I hope?" he asked a little anxiously, nodding his head towards hiscompanion's uniform. 

"Not at present, " Dominey answered. "I am a trifle over age to go withthe first batch or two. Where have you been?"

Seaman hitched his chair a little nearer. 

"In Ireland, " he confided. "Sorry to desert you as I did, but you do notbegin to count for us just yet. There was just a faint doubt as to whatthey were doing to do about internment. That is why I had to get theIrish trip off my mind. "

"What has been decided?"

"The Government has the matter under consideration, " Seaman replied, with a chuckle. "I can certainly give myself six months before I need toslip off. Now tell me, why do I find you down here?"

"After Terniloff left, " Dominey explained, "I felt I wanted to get away. I have been asked to start some recruiting work down here. "

"Terniloff--left his little volume with you?"

"Yes!"

"Where is it?"

"Safe, " Dominey replied. 

Seaman mopped his forehead. 

"It needs to be, " he muttered. "I have orders to see it destroyed. We can talk of that presently. Sometimes, when I am away from you, Itremble. It may sound foolish, but you have in your possession just thetwo things--that map and Von Terniloff's memoirs--which would wreck ourpropaganda in every country of the world. "

"Both are safe, " Dominey assured him. "By the by, my friend, " he wenton, "do you know that you yourself are forgetting your usual caution?"

"In what respect?" Seaman demanded quickly. 

"As you stooped to sit down just now, I distinctly saw the shape of yourrevolver in your hip pocket. You know as well as I do that with yourname and the fact that you are only a naturalised Englishman, it isinexcusably foolish to be carrying firearms about just now. "

Seaman thrust his hand into his pocket and threw the revolver upon thetable. 

"You are quite right, " he acknowledged. "Take care of it for me. I tookit with me to Ireland, because one never knows what may happen in thatamazing country. "

Dominey swept it carelessly into the drawer of the desk at which he wassitting. 

"Our weapons, from now on, " Seaman continued, "must be the weapons ofguile and craft. You and I will have, alas! to see less of one another, Dominey. In many ways it is unfortunate that we have not been able tokeep England out of this for a few more months. However, the situationmust be dealt with as it exists. So far as you are concerned youhave practically secured yourself against suspicion. You will hold abrilliant and isolated place amongst those who are serving the greatWar Lord. When I do approach you, it will be for sympathy and assistanceagainst the suspicions of those far-seeing Englishmen!"

Dominey nodded. 

"You will stay the night?" he asked. 

"If I may, " Seaman assented. "It is the last time for many months whenit will be wise for us to meet on such intimate terms. Perhaps our dearfriend Parkins will take vinous note of the occasion. "

"In other words, " Dominey said, "you propose that we shall drink theDominey cabinet hock and the Dominey port to the glory of our country. "

"To the glory of our country, " Seaman echoed. "So be it, myfriend. --Listen. "

A car had passed along the avenue in front of the house. There wasthe sound of voices in the hall, a knock at the door, the rustle of awoman's clothes. Parkins, a little disturbed, announced the arrivals. 

"The Princess of Eiderstrom and--a gentleman. The Princess said thather errand with you was urgent, sir, " he added, turning apologeticallytowards his master. 

The Princess was already in the room, and following her a short man ina suit of sombre black, wearing a white tie, and carrying a black bowlerhat. He blinked across the room through his thick glasses, and Domineyknew that the end had come. The door was closed behind them. ThePrincess came a little further into the room. Her hand was extendedtowards Dominey, but not in greeting. Her white finger pointed straightat him. She turned to her companion. 

"Which is that, Doctor Schmidt?" she demanded. 

"The Englishman, by God!" Schmidt answered. 

The silence which reigned for several seconds was intense and profound. The coolest of all four was perhaps Dominey. The Princess was pale witha passion which seemed to sob behind her words. 

"Everard Dominey, " she cried, "what have you done with my lover? Whathave you done with Leopold Von Ragastein?"

"He met with the fate, " Dominey replied, "which he had prepared for me. We fought and I conquered. "

"You killed him?"

"I killed him, " Dominey echoed. "It was a matter of necessity. His bodysleeps on the bed of the Blue River. "

"And your life here has been a lie!"

"On the contrary, it has been the truth, " Dominey objected. "I assuredyou at the Carlton, when you first spoke to me, and I have assured you adozen times since, that I was Everard Dominey. That is my name. That iswho I am. "

Seaman's voice seemed to come from a long way off. For the moment theman had neither courage nor initiative. He seemed as though he hadreceived some sort of stroke. His mind was travelling backwards. 

"You came to me at Cape Town, " he muttered; "you had all Von Ragastein'sletters, you knew his history, you had the Imperial mandate. "

"Von Ragastein and I exchanged the most intimate confidences in hiscamp, " Dominey said, "as Doctor Schmidt there knows. I told him myhistory, and he told me his. The letters and papers I took from him. "

Schmidt had covered his face with his hands for a moment. His shoulderswere heaving. 

"My beloved chief!" he sobbed. "My dear devoted master! Killed by thatdrunken Englishman!"

"Not so drunk as you fancied him, " Dominey said coolly, "not so far gonein his course of dissipation but that he was able to pull himself upwhen the great incentive came. "

The Princess looked from one to the other of the two men. Seaman hadstill the appearance of a man struggling to extricate himself from somesort of nightmare. 

"My first and only suspicion, " he faltered, "was that night when Wolffdisappeared!"

"Wolff's coming was rather a tragedy, " Dominey admitted. "Fortunately, Ihad a secret service man in the house who was able to dispose of him. "

"It was you who planned his disappearance?" Seaman gasped. 

"Naturally, " Dominey replied. "He knew the truth and was trying all thetime to communicate with you. "

"And the money?" Seaman continued, blinking rapidly. "One hundredthousand pounds, and more?"

"I understood that was a gift, " Dominey replied. "If the German SecretService, however, cares to formulate a claim and sue me--"

The Princess suddenly interrupted. Her eyes seemed on fire. 

"What are you, you two?" she cried, stretching out her hands towardsSchmidt and Seaman. "Are you lumps of earth--clods--creatures withoutcourage and intelligence? You can let him stand there--the Englishmanwho has murdered my lover, who has befooled you? You let him stand thereand mock you, and you do and say nothing! Is his life a sacred thing?Has he none of your secrets in his charge?"

"The great God above us!" Seaman groaned, with a sudden white horror inhis face. "He has the Prince's memoirs! He has the Kaiser's map!"

"On the contrary, " Dominey replied, "both are deposited at the ForeignOffice. We hope to find them very useful a little later on. "

Seaman sprang forward like a tiger and went down in a heap as he almostthrew himself upon Dominey's out-flung fist. Schmidt came stealingacross the room, and from underneath his cuff something gleamed. 

"You are two to one!" the Princess cried passionately, as bothassailants hesitated. "I would to God that I had a weapon, or that Iwere a man!"

"My dear Princess, " a good-humoured voice remarked from the window, "four to two the other way, I think, what?"

Eddy Pelham, his hands in his pockets, but a very alert gleam in hisusually vacuous face, stood in the windowed doorway. From behind him, two exceedingly formidable-looking men slipped into the room. There wasno fight, not even a struggle. Seaman, who had never recovered from theshock of his surprise, and was now completely unnerved, was handcuffedin a moment, and Schmidt disarmed. The latter was the first to break thecurious silence. 

"What have I done?" he demanded. "Why am I treated like this?"

"Doctor Schmidt?" Eddy asked pleasantly. 

"That is my name, sir, " was the fierce reply. "I have just landed fromEast Africa. We knew nothing of the war when we started. I came toexpose that man. He is an impostor--a murderer! He has killed a Germannobleman. "

"He has committed _lese majeste_!" Seaman gasped. "He has deceived theKaiser! He has dared to sit in his presence as the Baron Von Ragastein!"

The young man in flannels glanced across at Dominey and smiled. 

"I say, you two don't mean to be funny but you are, " he declared. "Firstof all, there's Doctor Schmidt accuses Sir Everard here of being animpostor because he assumed his own name; accuses him of murdering a manwho had planned in cold blood--you were in that, by the by, Schmidt--tokill him; and then there's our friend here, the secretary of the societyfor propagating better relations between the business men of England andGermany, complaining because Sir Everard carried through in Germany, forEngland, exactly what he believed the Baron Von Ragastein was carryingout here--for Germany. You're a curious, thick-headed race, youGermans. "

"I demand again, " Schmidt shouted, "to know by what right I am treatedas a criminal?"

"Because you are one, " Eddy answered coolly. "You and Von Ragasteintogether planned the murder of Sir Everard Dominey in East Africa, and Icaught you creeping across the floor just now with a knife in your hand. That'll do for you. Any questions to ask, Seaman?"

"None, " was the surly reply. 

"You are well-advised, " the young man remarked coolly. "Within the lasttwo days, your house in Forest Hill and your offices in London Wall havebeen searched. "

"You have said enough, " Seaman declared. "Fate has gone against me. Ithank God that our master has abler servants than I and the strength tocrush this island of popinjays and fools!"

"Popinjays seems severe, " Eddy murmured, in a hard tone. "However, toget on with this little matter, " he added, turning to one of his twosubordinates. "You will find a military car outside. Take these men overto the guardroom at the Norwich Barracks. I have arranged for an escortto see them to town. Tell the colonel I'll be over later in the day. "

The Princess rose from the chair into which she had subsided a fewmoments before. Dominey turned towards her. 

"Princess, " he said, "there can be little conversation between us. YetI shall ask you to remember this. Von Ragastein planned my death incold blood. I could have slain him as an assassin, without the slightestrisk, but I preferred to meet him face to face with the truth upon mylips. It was his life or mine. I fought for my country's sake, as he didfor his. "

The Princess looked at him with glittering eyes. 

"I shall hate you to the end of my days, " she declared, "because youhave killed the thing I love, but although I am a woman, I know justice. You were chivalrous towards me. You treated Leopold perhaps betterthan he would have treated you. I pray that I shall never see yourface again. Be so good as to suffer me to leave this house at once, andunattended. "

Dominey threw open the windows which led on to the terrace and stood onone side. She passed by without a glance at him and disappeared. Eddycame strolling along the terrace a few moments later. 

"Nice old ducks, those two, dear heart, " he confided. "Seaman has justoffered Forsyth, my burly ruffian in the blue serge suit, a hundredpounds to shoot him on the pretence that he was escaping. "

"And what about Schmidt?"

"Insisted on his rights as an officer and demanded the front seat and acigar before the car started! A pretty job, Dominey, and neatly cleanedup. "

Dominey was watching the dust from the two cars which were disappearingdown the avenue. 

"Tell me, Eddy, " he asked, "there's one thing I have always been curiousabout. How did you manage to keep that fellow Wolff when there wasn't awar on, and he wasn't breaking the law?"

The young man grinned. 

"We had to stretch a point there, old dear, " he admitted. "Plans of afortress, eh?"

"Do you mean to say that he had plans of a fortress upon him?" Domineyasked. 

"Picture post-card of Norwich Castle, " the young man confided, "but keepit dark. Can I have a drink before I get the little car going?"

The turmoil of the day was over, and Dominey, after one silent butpassionate outburst of thankfulness at the passing from his life of thisunnatural restraint, found all his thoughts absorbed by the strugglewhich was being fought out in the bedchamber above. The old doctor camedown and joined him at dinner time. He met Dominey's eager glance with alittle nod. 

"She's doing all right, " he declared. 

"No fever or anything?"

"Bless you, no! She's as near as possible in perfect health physically. A different woman from what she was this time last year, I can tellyou. When she wakes up, she'll either be herself again, without a singleillusion of any sort, or--"

The doctor paused, sipped his wine, emptied his glass and set it downapprovingly. 

"Or?" Dominey insisted. 

"Or that part of her brain will be more or less permanently affected. However, I am hoping for the best. Thank heavens you're on the spot!"

They finished their dinner almost in silence. Afterwards, they smokedfor a few minutes upon the terrace. Then they made their way softlyupstairs. The doctor parted with Dominey at the door of the latter'sroom. 

"I shall remain with her for an hour or so, " he said. "After that Ishall leave her entirely to herself. You'll be here in case there's achange?"

"I shall be here, " Dominey promised. 

The minutes passed into hours, uncounted, unnoticed. Dominey sat inhis easy-chair, stirred by a tumultuous wave of passionate emotion. Thememory of those earlier days of his return came back to him withall their poignant longings. He felt again the same tearing at theheart-strings, the same strange, unnerving tenderness. The great world'sdrama, in which he knew that he, too, would surely continue to play hispart, seemed like a thing far off, the concern of another race of men. Every fibre of his being seemed attuned to the magic and the music ofone wild hope. Yet when there came what he had listened for so long, thehope seemed frozen into fear. He sat a little forward in his easy-chair, his hands griping its sides, his eyes fixed upon the slowly wideningcrack in the panel. It was as it had been before. She stooped low, stoodup again and came towards him. From behind an unseen hand closed thepanel. She came to him with her arms outstretched and all the wonderfulthings of life and love in her shining eyes. That faint touch of thesomnambulist had passed. She came to him as she had never come before. She was a very real and a very live woman. 

"Everard!" she cried. 

He took her into his arms. At their first kiss she thrilled from head tofoot. For a moment she laid her head upon his shoulder. 

"Oh, I have been so silly!" she confessed. "There were times when Icouldn't believe that you were my Everard--mine! And now I know. "

Her lips sought his again, his parched with the desire of years. Alongthe corridor, the old doctor tiptoed his way to his room, with a pleasedsmile upon his face.